Odinkalu calls Chinda’s dual role a crime

Chidi Odinkalu, a former chairperson of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, has criticized Kingsley Chinda for being both the House of Representatives Minority Leader and the governorship candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State. Odinkalu sees this as a sign of what he calls the “Tinubu system.”

Odinkalu shared his thoughts on his verified X handle on Monday. He wondered how Chinda could represent the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House while also running for governor with the ruling APC.

“For the past three years, my good friend, Kingsley Chinda, has been the face of PDP in the Green Chamber,” Odinkalu wrote.

“There is no record that he has resigned or been removed. As at today, he remains the Minority Leader of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.”

He pointed out that Chinda has the APC nomination to run for the 2027 Rivers governorship election. Odinkalu argued that this situation does not make sense politically.

“How one man can be both candidate of the ruling party and leader of the opposition in parliament must be one of the miracles of Nigeria’s civil rule under the Tinubu system,” he said.

“This is not politics. It is organised crime.”

Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, shares this area with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He became the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election after he won the party's primary unopposed in May.

The APC announced that Chinda received 268,497 votes after other candidates, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, withdrew from the race. His nomination has sparked debate because he still holds the position of Minority Leader, which is usually for members of the largest opposition party in the House.

PREMIUM TIMES reported last week that this situation raises questions about whether a lawmaker can belong to one political party while seeking office with another.

Despite Chinda taking part in the APC screening and getting the party’s governorship ticket, there is no public record of his resignation from the PDP or that he has been removed from his position as Minority Leader.

This unusual political situation has raised concerns among lawyers and political observers about the trustworthiness of Nigeria’s party system. They are also worried about how constitutional rules on defections are being enforced.

This issue might end up in court. A case has been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The suit is asking the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognize Chinda as the APC governorship candidate, claiming his alleged defection brings up constitutional and election issues.