Rivers 2027: Legal Group Asks INEC to Disqualify APC Candidate Kingsley Chinda After Supreme Court Judgment

The legal battle surrounding the 2027 Rivers State governorship election has intensified following a formal demand by a public interest law organization, the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), requesting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review and invalidate the nomination of Kingsley Chinda as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

The petition stems from a recent Supreme Court judgment delivered by a seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro, which set aside a Court of Appeal ruling and restored statutory provisions under the Electoral Act concerning political party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures.

In a letter signed by ALDRAP Executive Secretary, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, the group urged the electoral body to take administrative steps in alignment with the apex court decision to ensure full compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Conflict of Interest and Bias Claims in Screening Panel

The petition builds upon an ongoing lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026). In the suit, ALDRAP names INEC, the APC, the APC National Chairman, Kingsley Chinda, Abdul Mahmud, and Mariana Ajibola as respondents.

ALDRAP contends that the internal screening process that cleared Chinda was fundamentally flawed due to procedural bias. The core legal arguments raised in the filing include:

• Violation of Fair Hearing: The group argues that appointing Abdul Mahmud and Mariana Ajibola as chairmen of the APC Rivers State screening and appeal committees violated Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which guarantees the right to an impartial hearing.
• Personal and Political Ties: The suit alleges that Mahmud and Ajibola share longstanding political, professional, and personal relationships with Chinda and political figures aligned with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, creating a reasonable apprehension of bias during candidate evaluation.
• Defection and Membership Records: Concerns have also been raised regarding Chinda’s transition process and compliance with political party membership register requirements mandated by the Supreme Court ruling.

Call for Out-of-Court Consultative Settlement

Rather than forcing the dispute through prolonged post-election litigation, ALDRAP requested that INEC immediately convene a consultative out-of-court settlement meeting with the affected stakeholders, including the APC leadership and Chinda.

Dr. Jaja emphasized that the petition does not ask INEC to usurp judicial authority, but rather to establish administrative clarity on membership registers and party submission records to prevent pre-election irregularities from undermining the credibility of the upcoming governorship race.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main reason ALDRAP wants Kingsley Chinda disqualified?

ALDRAP argues that the APC screening panel that cleared Chinda lacked independence due to personal and political relationships between panel leaders and the candidate, violating Section 36(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution regarding fair hearing.

How does the recent Supreme Court judgment affect this case?

The Supreme Court restored strict statutory provisions governing political party membership registers and candidate nomination workflows under the Electoral Act, giving INEC clear enforcement backing over party compliance.

Has INEC taken official action against Kingsley Chinda’s candidacy?

INEC has received the petition and court references. The commission is reviewing the administrative implications of the Supreme Court ruling in consultation with legal representatives.