Wike's ally Kingsley Chinda emerges Rivers APC governorship candidate

Ogundu Kingsley Chinda has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 election in Rivers State following the withdrawal of three other aspirants from the race. Chinda emerged as the party’s sole candidate after Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former governorship candidate Tonye Cole and Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly reportedly stepped down from the contest on Wednesday night, May 20. Chairman of the APC State Governorship Primary Committee, Kwamoti Bitrus, announced that Chinda secured 268,497 votes as the sole aspirant in the primary election. Bitrus commended party members for what he described as their massive participation in the exercise and praised party agents for their commitment throughout the process. He also thanked the state leadership of the APC for creating what he called a conducive environment for the primary election. Chinda currently represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and serves as the Minority Leader of the 10th House. The lawmaker was originally elected into the National Assembly under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. Speaking after the primary, APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Chibike Ikenga, said the party had been “recalibrated” in the state. According to Ikenga, the emergence of Chinda as the party’s candidate signals a reorganisation within the APC and provides the party with a candidate capable of promoting unity and development in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.