By Suleiman Anyalewechi
About two weeks after securing the Rivers State gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressive Congress, APC, for the 2027 polls Hon Kingsley Chinda, member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, on Tuesday, formally resigned his membership of the rival Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Hon Chinda, a known crony of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is facing a legal challenge over alleged improper resignation of his membership of the PDP, as well as his position as the House of Representatives Minority Leader.
Announcing the defection on Tuesday June 2, 2026, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, however read a letter of resignation from Chinda dated April 23, 2026.
Following the formal announcement of his defection, Chinda resigned his position as the House Minority Leader, a position he had occupied on the PDP platform.
Instructively, Hon Chinda, who is widely perceived as being projected by Wike, about two weeks ago secured the Governorship ticket of the APC, for Rivers state unopposed after the sudden withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, George Kelly, and Tonye Cole from the race.
An Abuja-based advocacy group – Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting ,and Advocacy Practitioners, had, in a motion on notice filed on May 12, 2026 at a Federal High Court, challenged the eligibility of Chinda in participating in the APC primaries in Rivers State.
The group, in the suit filed by its counsel J B Lamay, argued that Hon Chinda’s defection from the PDP did not follow due process, noting that it violated certain provisions of both the 2026 Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
Consequently, the group prayed the court for an order restraining Chinda from participating in the APC Rivers state primaries.
Similarly,it asked the court for an order directing the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare Chinda’s seat vacant, as well as remove him as the Minority Leader for allegedly running foul of the defection processes.
In the motion on notice in which APC ,INEC ,the Attorney General of the Federation AGF ,the House of Representatives Speaker were listed as respondents ,the plaintiff also prayed the court for an order compelling the electoral umpire to conduct a by-election to fill vacant seat of Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
