A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has adjourned until December 10 the hearing of a suit seeking to disqualify Kingsley Chinda as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The suit, instituted by Samuel Amatonjie, challenges Chinda’s eligibility to contest the election on the APC platform.
Other defendants in the case are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the APC, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the National Assembly.
Speaking after Wednesday’s proceedings, Amatonjie said the case was filed to determine whether Chinda’s defection from the PDP to the APC complied with the provisions of the Constitution.
The plaintiff argued that Chinda remained a PDP member at the relevant time and should therefore not be allowed to fly the APC flag in the 2027 election.
Amatonjie described the suit as public-interest litigation aimed at securing an interpretation of constitutional provisions governing defection and electoral eligibility.
He said the matter was initially scheduled for hearing, but the defendants required time to respond to the plaintiff’s replies to their preliminary objections and counter-affidavits.
The plaintiff also applied for subpoenas compelling INEC, the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly to produce documents relevant to the case.
According to him, the documents requested from the National Assembly include records of proceedings between April 1 and June 2, 2026.
He said the subpoena to INEC sought a letter dated April 28, 2026, through which the APC notified the commission of its primary election, as well as the party’s membership register submitted with the letter.
Amatonjie maintained that the documents would help establish the circumstances surrounding Chinda’s alleged defection.
Counsel to the defendants, Paul Dauda, SAN, said the defence had filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
Dauda explained that the plaintiff’s response to the objection was served on the defence on Tuesday, leaving the legal team needing time to study the processes and prepare its reply.
Following submissions by counsel, the court adjourned the matter until December 10 for hearing.
The suit seeks to determine whether Chinda is constitutionally eligible to contest the 2027 Rivers State governorship election under the APC platform.
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