Following Wednesday night withdrawals of three other candidates including Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Kingsley Chinda, immediate past Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on Thursday evening emerged unopposed as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC in Rivers State.
Besides Governor Fubara, Pastor Tonye Cole who was the party’s candidate in 2023 and Dr. Dax Alabo George-Kelly a former Commissioner for Works who had purchased nomination forms to vie for the be landlord of the Brick House in 2027 also withdrew from the race.
The coast was thus, cleared for Chinda who at the symbolic Governorship primary election conducted by the APC in Port Harcourt to clinch the ticket with a total of 268,497 votes.
Declaring the results of the primary election conducted in the 23 local councils of the state, Chairman of the Rivers APC Primary Election Committee, Bitrus Kwamoti said Chinda pulled a total of 268,497 votes to emerge winner.
He said: “The sole aspirant, Chinda Ogundu Kingsley, scored the total number of votes, 268, 497. 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’s governorship candidate for Rivers State dated this 21st day of May 2026”.
Kwamoti commended the people of Rivers State for their peaceful disposition all through the election. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the election.
“We have to appreciate your conduct and your commitment, most especially the State Party Chairman that provides a conducive environment for us to conduct this exercise and we are so grateful for that.
“I also want to appreciate the people of Rivers State. We have gone to four places to observe before coming to the collation center how the exercise is being carried out and we are truly satisfied with what we have seen, which was rancor free. That is how a party should conduct themselves, and we commend you for that,” he added.
In his reaction, Chief Felix Obuah, the Rivers West Senatorial District candidate of the party affirmed that Chinda is the best candidate for the party in the polls.
He boasted that no other party or candidate can defeat Chinda in the 2027 elections.
“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 to come,” Obuah stated.
