The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development was announced on Tuesday when the Speaker of the House read Chinda’s defection letter during plenary.

According to the Speaker, the letter notifying the House of Chinda’s decision to leave the PDP for the APC was dated April 23, 2026.

The announcement formally confirmed weeks of speculation surrounding the Rivers lawmaker’s political future.

Following the announcement of his defection, Chinda resigned his position as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

His resignation creates a vacancy in one of the principal opposition positions in the Green Chamber.

Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, the same constituency with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Nyesom Wike, emerged as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election after winning the party’s primary election unopposed in May.

The APC said he polled 268,497 votes after other aspirants, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, withdrew from the contest.

His emergence sparked public debate because he held the office of Minority Leader, a position traditionally reserved for a member of the largest opposition party in the House.