Kingsley Chinda has resigned as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives following his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 election.
Gatekeepers News reports that the resignation was announced during Tuesday’s plenary session after House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read Chinda’s letter to lawmakers. According to the Speaker, the resignation letter was dated April 23, 2026.
In the letter, Chinda expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the minority caucus, describing it as a privilege to serve and contribute to the legislative work of the House. He also pledged to continue supporting the activities of the National Assembly as a member of the Green Chamber.
The development comes weeks after Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, emerged as the APC’s governorship candidate in Rivers State.
His candidacy generated controversy because he was still serving as the opposition leader in the House while contesting under the platform of the ruling party without publicly announcing his defection at the time.
Chinda, a political ally of Nyesom Wike, won the APC governorship ticket on May 21 after other aspirants stepped down from the race. However, his emergence has faced opposition from a faction of the APC in Rivers State, which recently declared the primary election that produced him null and void.
