The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has included Kingsley Chinda, a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, on its final list of 19 candidates for the 2027 Rivers State governorship election, amid an ongoing legal controversy over his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
Chinda appeared at number five on the list released by the electoral commission on Saturday, placing him among the candidates listed to contest the forthcoming governorship election in Rivers State.
His inclusion has attracted attention because of questions surrounding his political defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC and the legal requirements governing party membership records and candidate nominations.
Legal Questions Surround Chinda’s APC Candidacy
The controversy surrounding Chinda’s eligibility has intensified following the Supreme Court’s intervention in provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to party membership records and the selection of candidates for elections.
The court restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Act, which address requirements concerning political party membership registers and compliance with procedures for selecting candidates.
The provisions have raised questions about whether political parties can nominate candidates whose names were not included in membership registers submitted to INEC within the stipulated period.
These requirements have become particularly significant ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political defections and changes in party affiliation attracting greater scrutiny.
Under the restored provisions, compliance with statutory requirements for party membership registration could become a determining factor in challenges to a candidate’s eligibility.
However, Chinda’s inclusion on INEC’s final list does not, on its own, establish how the commission considered the specific legal questions surrounding his nomination.
ALDRAP Had Called for Action Over Chinda’s Eligibility
The commission’s publication of the final list comes weeks after the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) called for action over Chinda’s eligibility to contest the Rivers governorship election.
The group urged INEC to meet with the APC and the candidate to address concerns arising from the Supreme Court judgment and a pending legal challenge to his nomination.
The dispute centres partly on the timing of Chinda’s registration with the APC and whether the party complied with the statutory requirements governing membership registers before conducting its governorship primary.
ALDRAP subsequently pursued legal action challenging aspects of Chinda’s nomination, bringing his political defection and eligibility into focus ahead of the election.
Although INEC has now listed him among the candidates for the contest, outstanding court proceedings and applicable electoral laws remain separate considerations in determining any challenge to his candidacy.
How Chinda Emerged as APC Governorship Candidate
Chinda emerged as the APC governorship candidate on May 21, 2026, following the withdrawal of other aspirants from the party’s primary election.
The party’s governorship primary committee announced that he scored 268,497 votes, having emerged as the sole aspirant in the exercise.
His emergence came amid political developments involving Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the camp associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Wike has publicly backed Chinda’s governorship ambition and described him as his preferred choice to succeed Fubara.
The minister expressed his support at a reception organised in his honour by Ogbakor Ikwerre, a socio-cultural organisation representing the Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers State.
Speaking at the gathering, Wike referred to Chinda as the “former Minority Leader in the House of Representatives and, by the grace of God, the next governor of Rivers State.”
The endorsement has added political significance to Chinda’s candidacy as parties prepare for the 2027 Rivers governorship election.
Other Candidates on INEC’s Final List
INEC’s final list features candidates from several political parties, setting up a multi-party contest for the Rivers State governorship seat.
Among those listed are Gabriel Pidomson Baritulem of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumo Lulu-Briggs of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Samuel Soni Ejekwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Other political parties represented on the list include the Action Alliance, Action Alliance of Nigeria, Action Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Action Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, Democratic Leadership Alliance, Labour Party, National Democratic Party, National Network for Progressive People, National Rescue Movement, People’s Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party and Zenith Labour Party.
The range of parties represented highlights the competition expected in the race to succeed Governor Fubara.
However, the publication of the list should be distinguished from the resolution of any outstanding legal dispute concerning an individual candidate’s nomination.
Legal Battle Could Remain Significant Ahead of 2027
Chinda’s appearance on INEC’s final list marks an important development in the preparations for the Rivers governorship election, but questions over his APC nomination remain part of the wider legal debate surrounding the race.
The outstanding issues include whether the applicable party membership requirements were met and how the pending legal challenge will be resolved.
The final determination of any dispute will depend on the relevant electoral provisions and the outcome of proceedings before the appropriate court.
POLITICS NIGERIA had earlier reported a legal move seeking to stop Chinda from contesting the 2027 Rivers governorship election on the APC platform.
The suit filed by ALDRAP challenged aspects of his nomination following the Supreme Court’s judgment, placing his party affiliation and eligibility under further scrutiny.
As preparations for the 2027 election continue, the outcome of the legal challenge could remain an important issue in determining the status of Chinda’s candidacy.