APC Picks Kingsley Chinda as Rivers Governorship Candidate for 2027

The All Progressives Congress has declared Kingsley Chinda as its governorship candidate for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections, ending weeks of political speculation surrounding the party’s primary process in the state.

The result was announced on Thursday in Port Harcourt by Bitrus Kwamoti, who served as chairman and returning officer of the APC governorship primary election committee.

Kwamoti announced the outcome at the APC secretariat after receiving and collating results from the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

According to him, Chinda emerged as the winner and sole candidate after securing a total of 268,497 votes in the primary election.

“Ogundu Kingsley, having satisfied the requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner of the primary election,” Kwamoti stated.

The emergence of Chinda is expected to significantly reshape the political landscape in Rivers State, where tensions have remained high following the prolonged political crisis involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The APC governorship primary had attracted nationwide attention because of speculation over possible alignments within the party and uncertainty surrounding Fubara’s political future.

Reports had earlier indicated that Fubara withdrew from the APC governorship race after consultations with associates and supporters, citing the need to preserve peace and political stability in the state.

His withdrawal fuelled widespread debate over the balance of power within Rivers politics and the growing influence of political actors aligned with Wike within the APC structure.

Chinda, a prominent federal lawmaker and long-time political figure in Rivers State, has been one of the influential voices in the National Assembly and previously served as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives of Nigeria.

Political analysts say his emergence as APC candidate signals a major strategic move by the party as it seeks to reclaim Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s most politically significant oil-producing states.

Rivers has remained a battleground for fierce political rivalries over the years, often shaped by alliances between governors, lawmakers and powerful political blocs.

Observers believe the APC’s choice of candidate could intensify political realignments in the state ahead of the governorship election, especially as opposition parties continue internal consultations and coalition talks.

The primary process also comes at a time when internal crises, defections and leadership disputes are reshaping Nigeria’s political environment ahead of 2027.

Security agencies are expected to maintain heightened surveillance in Rivers as political activities intensify in the coming months.