The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and its governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kieghe Nature Dumale, have approached the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, seeking to disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC) from participating in the February 6, 2027, governorship election.

 

The suit challenges the APC’s compliance with statutory provisions governing the submission of party membership registers ahead of primary elections, raising fresh questions about the eligibility of political parties and their candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

 

The plaintiffs alleged that the APC failed to meet the requirements stipulated in the Electoral Act, 2026, before conducting its governorship primary in Rivers State.

 

In an 18-paragraph affidavit filed in support of the suit, Dumale specifically accused the ruling party of violating Section 77(5) to (7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

 

He argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ought to have scrutinised the APC’s membership records and determined whether the party complied with the relevant legal provisions before publishing the final list of candidates for the governorship election.

 

PRP Cites Supreme Court Judgment

 

The plaintiffs based part of their argument on a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party.

 

According to the PRP and its candidate, the Supreme Court’s decision affirmed the validity of the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act and reinforced INEC’s responsibility to ensure that political parties comply with statutory requirements relating to membership registers and candidate nominations.

 

They maintained that the judgment provides a legal basis for examining whether the APC fulfilled the necessary conditions before conducting its governorship primary in Rivers State.

 

The plaintiffs are therefore questioning why the electoral commission proceeded to publish the APC’s candidate on the final list despite the alleged failure to comply with the requirements.

 

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INEC Accused Of Inconsistent Application Of Electoral Laws

 

The suit also raised concerns about INEC’s handling of the Supreme Court judgment.

 

The plaintiffs recalled that the commission’s chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, had announced that INEC would study the judgment and take appropriate steps to implement its implications.

 

However, they accused the commission of failing to apply the same legal standards to the APC’s Rivers State governorship nomination before releasing the final list of candidates.

 

They argued that INEC should have examined the party’s compliance with the relevant provisions rather than proceeding with the publication of candidates without addressing the alleged violations.

 

Legal Challenge Adds To 2027 Election Disputes

 

The development adds to the growing legal disputes surrounding party primaries, candidate eligibility and compliance with electoral regulations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

The interpretation and enforcement of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly provisions concerning party membership registers, have become important issues in determining the validity of political parties’ nomination processes.

 

For the APC, the case presents a fresh legal challenge to its participation in the Rivers governorship election, while the PRP is asking the court to intervene over what it describes as non-compliance with the law.

 

The outcome of the proceedings could have implications for the APC’s participation in the Rivers State governorship contest scheduled for February 6, 2027.

 

However, the allegations contained in the suit remain claims by the plaintiffs, and the court is yet to determine the matter.