The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised fresh questions over the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, to contest the 2027 election.
The ADC’s position follows the September 24, 2026 judgment of the Supreme Court on provisions of the Electoral Act relating to political parties’ membership registers and the conduct of primary elections.
The Supreme Court emphasised compliance with Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, which requires political parties to submit their verified membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before conducting their primaries.
The judgment has since triggered legal and political debate over the possible implications for candidates whose party membership and nomination processes could come under scrutiny.
Reacting to the judgment, the Rivers State ADC Publicity Secretary, Chizi Enyi, argued that the ruling could affect Chinda’s candidacy.
Enyi said the issue centres on the timing of Chinda’s registration as an APC member and the date on which the party conducted its primary election.
According to him, Chinda joined the APC on April 27, while the party conducted its primary election for National Assembly aspirants on May 16.
He argued that only 19 days elapsed between the two dates, which, in his interpretation of the Electoral Act, falls short of the required 21-day period.
ADC Questions APC Membership Register
Enyi also raised questions about the membership register the APC submitted to INEC before Chinda joined the party.
He referred to an earlier report that the APC had met a deadline for submitting its membership register on April 24, before INEC subsequently extended the deadline to May 10.
According to the ADC spokesman, this could mean that Chinda joined the APC after the party had already submitted its register to the electoral commission.
Enyi therefore questioned whether the APC subsequently submitted an updated or additional register containing Chinda’s name. APC conducted its primary election for national assembly aspirants on May 16 and Chinda joined APC on April 27. Counting from April 27 to May 16, you have 19 days, which is less than the mandatory 21 days’ notice,” he said.
He further argued that the issue could potentially extend beyond Chinda if other APC candidates were affected by the same membership-register question.
The Supreme Court’s September 24 decision has become a significant point of discussion ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly over compliance with statutory requirements governing party primaries.
However, the material provided does not establish that the Supreme Court specifically disqualified Chinda or issued an order declaring him ineligible to contest.
The assertion that Chinda is no longer qualified to run is the position of the Rivers ADC, based on its interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment and the timeline surrounding his APC membership.
Any definitive determination concerning a candidate’s eligibility would depend on the applicable electoral provisions, the party’s records submitted to INEC and, where challenged, a competent court’s determination.
The development is expected to keep the interpretation and application of the Electoral Act at the centre of legal discussions surrounding the 2027 elections.
