Chinda Ogundu Faces Fresh Calls for Disqualification in Rivers
An advocacy group has asked INEC to disqualify Kingsley Chinda as the APC governorship candidate for Rivers State following a Supreme Court judgment.
Quick facts
- ALDRAP sent a letter to INEC dated September 26, 2026, asking to disqualify Kingsley Chinda.
- A seven-member Supreme Court panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro delivered a judgment on Thursday.
- The pending suit at the federal high court in Abuja is numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026.
Why it matters
Electoral disputes involving political party primaries frequently test the boundaries of Nigeria's Electoral Act and party constitutions. The interaction between internal party nominations and statutory oversight by INEC remains a central theme in pre-election litigation. Further outcomes depend heavily on the federal high court proceedings in Abuja.
An advocacy group has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify Kingsley Chinda as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 election. The request follows a recent Supreme Court judgment regarding party membership registers and candidate nominations.
What happened in the legal dispute?
According to TheCable, the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) submitted a letter dated September 26 signed by executive secretary Tonye Jaja. The group asked INEC to convene an urgent meeting with the APC, Chinda, and the association to explore an out-of-court settlement concerning suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026 at the federal high court in Abuja.
Why is this happening now?
The push for disqualification comes after a seven-member Supreme Court panel led by Adamu Jauro set aside a court of appeal judgment. The apex court restored sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, holding that these provisions do not conflict with the 1999 Constitution. ALDRAP stated that this ruling brought legal consequences surrounding Chinda’s candidacy into sharp focus.
What is the response from the APC?
Reacting to the developments, Chief Oby Ndukwe, an APC chieftain and ally of Chinda, stated that the Supreme Court made no consequential orders regarding the 2027 general elections. Speaking in Port Harcourt, Ndukwe maintained that no active suit challenges Chinda’s eligibility, adding that internal party primaries remain outside court jurisdiction according to prior rulings.
Frequently asked questions
Who is demanding the disqualification of Chinda Ogundu?
The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), led by its executive secretary Tonye Jaja, asked INEC to disqualify Kingsley Chinda from the Rivers State governorship race.
What prompted the latest action regarding Chinda Ogundu?
The request follows a Supreme Court judgment delivered by a seven-member panel led by Adamu Jauro, which restored specific provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party registers and nominations.
Where is the legal challenge filed?
The pending suit connected to the dispute is registered as number FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026 and is before the federal high court in Abuja.
What is the stance of the APC regarding the eligibility of Chinda Ogundu?
APC chieftain Oby Ndukwe stated that the Supreme Court made no consequential orders against any candidate and that primary elections remain an internal party affair.
Which electoral body received the disqualification letter?
The letter was addressed to Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), requesting an urgent meeting.
Which election is this dispute related to?
The controversy surrounds the nomination of candidates for the upcoming 2027 general elections in Rivers State.
In this story
Sources
Last checked Sep 28, 2026 at 7:25 AM. Trends move fast, so details may change. How we work
Comments