Speaker Announces Chinda’s Switch to APC and Resigns as Minority Leader, Causing Confusion

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbass, announced on Tuesday that Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda had switched parties, leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). The letter read by Abbass was dated April 23, 2026.

Chinda had already been announced as the APC’s candidate for governor of Rivers State before the defection was made public.

After the announcement, Chinda resigned from his role as Minority Leader of the House.

According to DAILY POST, Chinda is currently involved in a lawsuit alleging that his move from the PDP to the APC did not follow proper procedure.

The House of Representatives is expected to elect a new minority leader following Chinda’s resignation.