Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, a Member of the House of Representatives and Minority Leader, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chinda secured the party’s ticket after polling a total of 268,497 votes in a process described by party officials as peaceful and transparent at the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The Chairman of the APC Governorship Screening and Primary Committee, Mr. Bitrus Kwamoti, who announced the result, said Chinda emerged as the consensus candidate following the withdrawal of other aspirants, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and businessman Tonye Cole.
According to the committee, the exercise was conducted without rancour, reflecting growing internal consensus within the party ahead of the governorship race.
Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, is widely regarded as a key political figure within Rivers APC and a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. His emergence is seen as a strategic realignment within the party’s structure in the state.
Reacting after his victory, Chinda thanked party leaders and delegates for their confidence in him, pledging to unite the party and deliver effective governance if elected governor.
“With the support of our party and the people of Rivers State, we will work to build a more united and prosperous state,” he said.
Political analysts say Chinda’s candidacy sets the stage for a highly competitive 2027 governorship election in Rivers State, given its complex political dynamics and influence of major political actors.
