Rivers APC Guber Ticket: ‘Suit Against Chinda Baseless, Politically Motivated’

A civic advocacy group, the Centre for Constitutional Governance and Electoral Integrity, has defended the eligibility of Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State.

The organisation challenged those questioning Chinda’s eligibility to produce evidence showing that he participated in any Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) activity after April 2, 2026.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Executive Director of the group, Ibrahim Danjuma, said Chinda had already stepped down from his position as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives before participating in the APC governorship process.

The group also stated that the lawmaker had ceased functioning in any official capacity for the PDP.

Naija News reports that the reaction followed a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Chinda’s participation in the APC governorship primary.

However, the group described the suit as “baseless, speculative and politically driven.”

According to the organisation, the APC governorship primary was properly conducted and concluded.

“The process has been concluded. Hon. Kingsley Chinda is the duly emerged governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State,” the statement read.

The organisation challenged critics to provide proof that Chinda continued to function as a PDP official after aligning with the APC process.

“Those raising allegations of defection irregularities should present one single proof anywhere in Nigeria showing that after April 2, 2026, Hon. Chinda attended any PDP function, represented the PDP in any capacity, or acted as minority leader in the House of Representatives,” Danjuma said.

The group insisted that no such evidence exists because Chinda had already withdrawn from PDP leadership activities.

“Since April 2, he has not presided over any PDP caucus, issued any statement as minority leader, attended any PDP event, or functioned in that office in any form whatsoever,” the statement added.

CCGEI argued that political opponents were attempting to substitute speculation for facts because they were dissatisfied with the outcome of the APC governorship primary.

The organisation maintained that Chinda complied with all constitutional and procedural requirements before contesting the APC ticket.

The advocacy group further described the lawsuit as an abuse of judicial process aimed at creating confusion around a concluded political exercise.

It urged the court to dismiss what it called “a fishing expedition dressed up as constitutional litigation.”

According to the organisation, freedom of political association and democratic participation remain constitutional rights that cannot be undermined through politically motivated legal actions unsupported by evidence.