KINGSLEY Chinda, a member of the House of Representatives, has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
News Point Nigeria reports that Kingsley Chinda, a former minority leader of the Green Chamber and the sole contestant, was declared the winner of the APC primary election in the state on Thursday by Bitrus Kwamoti, chairman of the election committee.
Kwamoti announced that Chinda, who represents the Obio/Akpor federal constituency, secured a total of 268,497 votes.
Speaking after the exercise, Chinda, an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—said that if elected governor, he would run a government guided by “fear of God and respect for the rule of law.”
He further stated that “Rivers people should expect sincerity in governance and proper accountability,” adding that a “peaceful and progressive Rivers State is coming again.”
On Wednesday, the Rivers State governorship race saw major developments as Governor Siminalayi Fubara, businessman Tonye Cole, and former Commissioner for Works Dax George-Kelly all withdrew from the APC governorship primary.
Fubara said he stepped down from the contest out of conviction and sacrifice, stating that his decision was in the interest of peace and unity in the state.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the APC had screened both Fubara and Chinda ahead of the governorship primary.
Fubara, who appeared visibly downcast as he left the screening venue, declined to speak to journalists, a development that fueled speculation that the screening committee had disqualified him.
The APC screening committee had earlier disqualified dozens of Fubara’s associates in the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries while clearing aspirants loyal to Wike.
The long-running political tension between Fubara and Wike has continued to shape the state’s political landscape, culminating in impeachment attempts against the governor.
Most of the lawmakers in Rivers State who supported the impeachment moves against Fubara are known allies of Wike.
The FCT Minister had previously vowed to oppose Fubara’s re-election bid, accusing the governor of violating a peace agreement both men signed under the directive of President Bola Tinubu.