Former presidential aide and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babafemi Ojudu, has criticised developments surrounding the Rivers State governorship race, following the emergence of Kingsley Chinda as the party’s candidate.
Chinda, who served as Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, was announced as the APC governorship flagbearer for Rivers State ahead of the 2023 elections. His emergence was later followed by his formal defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), weeks after the party primary.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, announced Chinda’s defection during plenary on Tuesday, confirming his switch to the ruling party after securing its governorship ticket.
Reacting in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Ojudu questioned the development and its implications for party structure and internal democracy.
He said, “Welcome to Rivers State, a soon to be renamed Wike State.”
Ojudu also raised concerns about what he described as a reversal of standard party processes.
He said, “Traditionally, political parties are expected to be built on loyalty, shared values, ideological commitments, and long-term participation.”
He questioned how a candidate could emerge under such circumstances, stating, “What then are we witnessing when a politician obtains the ticket of a party before even becoming a member of that party?”
He further asked, “What happens to those who have spent years building the party, funding it, organizing for it, defending it, and remaining loyal through difficult times?”
Ojudu added, “What becomes of the principles of membership, party discipline, and internal democracy?”
Chinda is said to be associated with the Rainbow Coalition, a group of political actors drawn from different parties supporting President Bola Tinub
