2027: Supreme Court Did Not Make Any Consequential Orders on Chinda, Others — Ally

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and close ally of the party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Chief Oby Ndukwe, has declared that the Supreme Court did not make any consequential orders concerning anybody over the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in a chat with LEADERSHIP on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Ndukwe stated that there is no suit challenging Chinda’s eligibility in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

The APC chieftain further stated that the Supreme Court had earlier ruled that anything relating to primaries is an internal affair of political parties and is not for the courts to decide.

“Let me start by saying that there is no suit challenging O.K. Chinda’s election or eligibility for the election. That is number one. Two, the facts of the matter are very straightforward; the Zenith Labour Party went to court against INEC, and the Supreme Court restored INEC’s powers based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution, as amended.

“And what is the issue? The issue is the nomination of candidates for election and membership of political parties. First of all, you have to understand that every party has its own constitution, and the law is clear according to the Supreme Court that anything relating to primaries is an internal affair of political parties and is not for the courts to decide. It means that even a party can give waivers to people to run for elections.

“Now, the issue is the submission of the party register to INEC, which the Supreme Court made very clear that there is a provision for that in the Constitution. Being a member of a political party is the exclusive preserve of that political party, depending on how it chooses to conduct its primaries within the provisions of its constitution.

“So, it is not for an outsider to decide for a political party who its candidate should be. It is only those who contested the primaries with O.K. Chinda who can go to court and challenge his candidacy. Until that happens and the courts decide on it, there is no threat to his candidacy.

“For those who are celebrating or those who are apprehensive, the Supreme Court did not make any consequential orders concerning anybody who might have been affected by the judgment.”