Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, a known ally of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 election.
Chinda was officially declared winner of the APC governorship primary on Thursday in Port Harcourt after securing a total of 268,497 votes as the sole aspirant in the race.
The announcement was made by Bitrus Kwamoti, chairman of the APC governorship primary election committee, during the collation of results at the party’s secretariat in Rivers State.
“I, Kwamoti Bitrus, chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Rivers State Governorship Primary Election held on this 21st day of May, 2026,” he stated.
Kwamoti said the lawmaker fulfilled all constitutional requirements and guidelines of the APC, making him the party’s officially recognised governorship flagbearer for the next general election in Rivers State.
“The name of the aspirant, who is the sole aspirant, is Chinda Ogundu Kingsley. He scored the total number of votes, 268,497,” he added.
The development followed a dramatic twist in the APC primary process after other aspirants, including Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, withdrew from the contest barely hours before voting commenced.
Fubara had earlier announced his withdrawal, saying the decision was taken in the interest of peace, unity and political stability in Rivers State. His exit from the race cleared the path for Chinda’s unopposed emergence.
Chinda’s victory is expected to further reshape the political landscape in Rivers State, where the rivalry and shifting alliances between supporters of Wike and Fubara continue to dominate political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections.
