A fresh legal challenge has emerged in Rivers State politics as a group of lawyers has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop O. K. Chinda from participating in the 2027 Rivers governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
According to the suit, the lawyers argued that Chinda, who recently emerged as the APC governorship candidate after several aspirants reportedly stepped down for him, remains officially recognised as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in his current position as Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to remove him from the Minority Leader position, declare his seat in the House vacant, and restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising his APC governorship candidacy pending the determination of the case.
The legal action also questioned the legitimacy of Chinda’s alleged defection from the PDP to the APC, claiming that the move did not comply with constitutional and electoral provisions guiding party membership and defection by elected officials.
The development has further intensified political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections in Rivers State, with growing speculation over the influence of allies loyal to Nyesom Wike in Chinda’s emergence as the APC governorship flagbearer.
