Supreme Court Judgment Triggers Fresh Uncertainty Over 2027 Candidates, Rivers APC Defends Chinda.

PORT HARCOURT — Fresh controversy has erupted over the eligibility of some candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections following a recent Supreme Court judgment on the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over political party membership registers and nominations.

The Supreme Court, in its September 24, 2026 judgment, upheld the validity of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, reversing an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had struck down the provisions.

The judgment has triggered questions within political circles over the status of candidates whose party membership or participation in primaries could be affected by the provisions of the Electoral Act.

However, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports suggesting that its governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, popularly known as O.K. Chinda, has been disqualified or removed from the ballot.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, said there was no cause for alarm, insisting that Chinda’s candidature remained intact.

Ikenga argued that the Supreme Court judgment did not invalidate Chinda’s candidature and maintained that the APC governorship candidate would participate in the 2027 election.

The controversy followed questions over the timing of Chinda’s movement from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC and his subsequent emergence as the ruling party’s governorship candidate.

Reports indicate that Chinda’s resignation from the PDP was dated April 23, 2026, while INEC’s deadline for submission of party membership registers was subsequently extended to May 10, 2026.

The Supreme Court ruling has nevertheless prompted political parties and their lawyers to examine the possible implications for candidates across the country.

As parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, the legal interpretation of the judgment is expected to remain a major issue, particularly for candidates whose party membership records, primary participation or nomination processes may come under scrutiny.

For now, however, the Rivers APC maintains that O.K. Chinda remains its governorship candidate and has urged supporters to continue with preparations for the election.