Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Monday declared support for the emergence of lawmaker Kingsley Chinda as governorship candidate, describing him as a seasoned politician with the experience and pedigree to lead.
Wike made the remark while inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, insisting that Chinda’s political trajectory made his emergence both natural and unsurprising.
According to him, the Rivers lawmaker has built a solid profile across both the executive and legislative arms of government, making him well-suited for higher political responsibility.
“A good product sells itself. Everybody knows that Kingsley Chinda is the material. He is very experienced. He has worked in the executive and now in the legislature,” Wike said.
The minister stressed that Chinda’s long years of public service had positioned him ahead of other contenders, adding that his popularity within political circles was not accidental.
Wike also commented on the political situation in Rivers State, particularly the reported withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the governorship race.
He said he was not surprised by the development, insisting that there had been an earlier political understanding among key stakeholders in the state.
“I’m not surprised that the governor withdrew. He ought not to have picked the form because there was an agreement that impeachment would be dropped and he should not seek a second tenure,” he stated.
The FCT minister further alleged that the governor went against what he described as a gentleman’s agreement, arguing that the initial decision to obtain nomination forms contradicted earlier arrangements.
Wike maintained that the unfolding political developments were consistent with prior understandings reached among stakeholders in the state’s political structure.
