The All Progressives Congress has officially declared Kingsley Chinda as its governorship candidate for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general election, following the conclusion of the party’s primary election in Port Harcourt amid ongoing political tension involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Bitrus Kwamoti, announced the result on Thursday at the party’s secretariat after collation of votes from the 23 local government areas of the state.
Kwamoti said Chinda, who emerged as the party’s sole aspirant, secured a total of 268,497 votes in the exercise.
I hereby declare Chinda Ogundu Kingsley as the winner of the APC governorship primary election and the duly elected governorship candidate of the party for Rivers State,” he stated.
The APC governorship primary attracted significant political attention due to the lingering crisis within Rivers State politics and the continued influence of allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, within the APC structure.
There had also been widespread speculation surrounding the political future of Governor Siminalayi Fubara after reports emerged that he withdrew from the APC governorship race before the primary election.
Political observers say Chinda’s emergence could reshape the political landscape in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 governorship election as the battle for control of the oil-rich state intensifies.
The development comes amid growing uncertainty over Governor Fubara’s next political move following months of internal crisis and power struggle involving factions loyal to him and former governor Nyesom Wike.
Analysts believe the APC’s decision to present Chinda as its governorship flagbearer may further deepen political realignments in Rivers State ahead of the next election cycle.
