Abbas Tajudeen told to produce evidence of Chinda’s defection to APC, resignation as minority leader

According to Daily Post, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, Kingsley Chinda, a lawmaker from Rivers, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, has been requested to present official records proving that the letter was read aloud on the House floor.

A group called the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners made the demand. They recently sued INEC in Abuja Federal High Court to prevent them from recognising Chinda as the APC candidate for governor of Rivers State in the upcoming 2027 election.

During the APC governorship primary election on May 21, 2026, Chinda—who is seen as an ally of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—emerged as the party’s nominee following the withdrawal of other contenders such as Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly, Tonye Cole, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution addresses the defection of lawmakers from the political parties under which they were elected; the organization maintained that Chinda’s transfer from the PDP to the APC violated this section.

Jesse Williams Amuga, the association’s administrative secretary, signed a letter dated May 26, 2026, requesting the following: House Hansard, Votes and Proceedings, and Order Papers from the March and April 2026 plenary sessions.

If Chinda formally resigned from the PDP and relinquished her position as Minority Leader prior to her affiliation with the APC, the association claims that the necessary paperwork must be produced.

While the legal dispute regarding Chinda’s eligibility persists, the request was forwarded to the Deputy Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.