Fresh Challenges for APC Candidate Okey Kingsley Chinda in Rivers State
Okey Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Rivers State, is facing renewed threats to his candidacy as he navigates complexities within the Federal House of Representatives regarding his asylum status. This local turmoil comes on the heels of several significant rulings in favor of his opposition.
The Emeka Beke-led faction of the APC has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) to promptly annul the recent primaries that placed Chinda at the forefront, following three favorable court judgments issued in Port Harcourt. The legitimacy of these primaries has been questioned, especially after disqualifications impacted several notable party members, including the former deputy governor and current senator, Iparibo Harry Briggs.
During a press conference held in Port Harcourt on June 1, 2026, Darlington Nwawuju, spokesperson for the court-supported executive committee, elaborated on the rulings against the faction led by Tony Okocha. He emphasized that the Port Harcourt Court of Appeal had confirmed the nullification of the Okocha-led executive committee, urging the NWC to suspend all activities conducted by this now-outsider faction. Such changes have brought Chinda’s candidacy into question.
Chinda, once the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is now required to demonstrate that he properly resigned from his former position before transitioning to the APC and assuming leadership within the party in Rivers State.
Nwawuju presented seven demands at the press conference, stressing that any nominations, communications, or decisions made by the dismissed executive committee from December 20, 2024, to May 29, 2026, should be considered unlawful. He asserted that these actions lack any legal standing due to the court’s intervention.
Additionally, Nwawuju declared that there is currently no legitimate APC executive in Rivers State led by Emeka Beke. He noted that nominations submitted to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the upcoming local government elections were orchestrated by individuals lacking proper legal authority. He insisted that all electoral declarations and Certificates of Return issued for APC candidates should be revoked and redirected to duly appointed leadership recognized by the party.
Nwawuju indicated that legal actions would be initiated to assert the recognition of local government officials appointed by the Beke-led executive but were unjustly dismissed by RSIEC management. He urged the NWC to review all primaries conducted under questionable circumstances to prevent a repeat of past electoral failures experienced in Zamfara State.
The turmoil surrounding the APC in Rivers State has been attributed to the neglect of multiple court rulings by the NWC under the leadership of Umaru Ganduje. This oversight has sparked turmoil regarding the organization of primaries and local government elections. If the primaries that validated Chinda’s candidacy are disqualified, it could ignite further controversy in the National Assembly, jeopardizing his position in upcoming elections.
