The All Progressives Congress declared Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda its governorship candidate for Rivers State on Thursday. Party officials made the announcement at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt after the primary election.
Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Bitrus Kwamoti, announced the outcome. He stated that Kingsley Chinda scored 268,497 votes from the 23 local government areas. Kwamoti added that Chinda satisfied all requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines.
Kingsley Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, stood as the only aspirant. Other cleared aspirants, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Alabo George-Kelly, and Tonye Cole, withdrew from the race earlier. Their decision left the field open for Chinda.
Kingsley Chinda described the withdrawals as a sign of party unity. He expressed gratitude to party leaders and stakeholders who supported the process. Chinda, a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and an ally of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, recently joined the APC.
Party officials hailed the smooth conduct of the exercise. They noted that the collation of results from wards across the state proceeded without major issues. The declaration positions Kingsley Chinda to fly the APC flag in the 2027 governorship election.
Political observers expect a competitive race ahead. Rivers State politics remains dynamic with ongoing rivalries. Kingsley Chinda will now focus on consolidating support within the party and reaching out to voters across the state.
