Rivers APC Primary: Chinda, Wike’s kinsman emerges governorship candidate

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected Kingsley Ogundu Chinda as its governorship candidate for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general election.

Chinda, a member of the House of Representatives representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, emerged as the party’s sole aspirant during the governorship primary election held in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The lawmaker is regarded as a close associate of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Bitrus Kwamoti, announced the outcome of the exercise after collating results from the 23 local government areas of the state.

According to Kwamoti, Chinda polled a total of 268,497 votes to secure the party’s ticket.

“I, Kwamoti Bitrus, chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Rivers State Governorship Primary Election held on this 21st day of May, 2026,” he said.

Kwamoti stated that Chinda met all constitutional requirements and guidelines of the APC and was consequently declared the party’s governorship flagbearer.

“The name of the aspirant, who is the sole aspirant, is Chinda Ogundu Kingsley. He scored a total of 268,497 votes,” he added.

Chinda and Wike are both from the Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers State.

Some aspirants initially linked with the contest, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, had withdrawn from the primary before the exercise was conducted.