A court-backed faction of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has called for the cancellation of the party's primary elections, escalating the internal war threatening the candidacy of Kingsley Chinda, the APC's flagbearer for governor.
The faction, which claims the backing of a court judgment, wants the party to nullify the primaries that produced Chinda. Local government officials aligned with the dissenting group have joined the push, signaling that the party remains fractured months before the general election.
Chinda has been under sustained pressure since he emerged as the APC's gubernatorial candidate. His emergence triggered protests from party members who contested the validity of the primary process and questioned whether all aspirants received fair treatment. The rival faction argues the primary violated party rules and the electoral guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The court judgment cited by the faction appears to strengthen their legal position, though details of the ruling remain unclear. The faction's mobilisation of local government officials suggests they have support at the grassroots level, where they can influence party structures and potentially obstruct campaign activities.
Chinda's camp has not yet responded publicly to this latest demand. The APC national leadership faces pressure to intervene and resolve the dispute before it causes lasting damage to the party's chances in Rivers State, traditionally a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party. How the party reconciles these warring factions will determine whether it presents a united front or heads into the election severely weakened.
The party's leadership is expected to meet with both sides soon to determine whether the primary will be cancelled or if mediation efforts can bring the factions together. Without swift action, the internal strife could cost the APC its credibility among voters already weary of party infighting.
