0
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has elected Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, a known ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election following the party’s primary held on Thursday.
Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Kwamoti Bitrus, announced that Chinda, who contested as the sole aspirant, polled a total of 268,497 votes in the exercise.
Results released by the committee showed that votes were collated from various local government areas across the state
Formally declaring the outcome of the primary at the state party secretariat in Port Harcourt, Bitrus stated that Chinda met all constitutional and electoral requirements of the party and was therefore returned as the winner of the contest.
He said, “I, Kwamoti Bitrus, Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, hereby certified that I’m the returning officer for the River State Governorship Primary Election held on this day, 21st day of May, 2026.
“Chinda Ogundu Kingsley having satisfied the requirements of APC Constitution and guidelines, and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared winner of the primary election and is in turn elected as the party as the governorship candidate for river state dated this 21st day of may 2026.”
Chindah’s emergence followed the earlier withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole and Dax George-Kelly from the race, with the trio stating that their decisions came after extensive consultations and careful reflection with family members, friends, and political associates.
Addressing journalists after the exercise, the APC candidate for the Rivers West Senatorial District described Chinda as the party’s strongest choice ahead of the election, expressing confidence that no opposition party or candidate would be able to defeat him in the forthcoming polls.
“In Rivers State, we are going for the best candidate that can join people around in Rivers State. To be sincere to you, I don’t think any party can win anything in Rivers State.
“I want to assure you that we’re not only marketing OK Chinda, we’re marketing a better candidate. Chinda is an acceptable candidate any day anytime and I want to be very grateful to God Almighty for making this day come,” Obuah stated.
