Lawyers Move to Disqualify Chinda over ‘Belated Defection’

Lawyers from the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) claim Kingsley Chinda’s formal switch from the PDP to the APC was only announced after the Rivers State governorship primary. They argue this “belated defection” invalidates his candidacy for the 2027 election. ALDRAP has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to bar INEC from recognizing Chinda as the APC candidate. The group also served a Freedom of Information request for the APC membership register in Rivers State as of May 10, 2026. They point to constitutional provisions and Supreme Court rulings that require a defection notice to be formally read during a plenary session before a lawmaker can change parties. Chinda’s resignation was announced on June 2, though his defection letter was dated April 23, ahead of the primary. ALDRAP insists Chinda’s nomination breaches the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and a Court of Appeal judgment on the valid APC faction in Rivers State.

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