Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, as the state’s next governor.
Wike made the declaration on Tuesday while speaking at a reception organised in his honour by Ogbakor Ikwerre, the socio-cultural organisation representing the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, in Obiri-Ehie.
While acknowledging dignitaries at the event, Wike introduced Chinda as a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and described him as the person who would succeed Governor Siminalayi Fubara in 2027.
Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, emerged as the APC’s governorship candidate after the party’s primary election in May.
His emergence came after other aspirants, including former Commissioner for Works George-Kelly Alabo, stepped aside, leaving Chinda as the sole candidate in the primary.
The APC has also picked Rivers State House of Assembly Majority Leader, Major Jack, as Chinda’s running mate for the 2027 election.
The choice of Jack is expected to give the APC ticket a wider geographical spread, particularly in the riverine areas of the state.
Wike’s declaration further strengthens the political alliance between the FCT minister and Chinda, who has been a long-standing political ally of the former Rivers governor.
Governor Fubara has already ruled out seeking re-election in 2027, further opening the race for a new governor of the state.
