PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (FN) — Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, a close ally of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has been declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State. The announcement came Thursday in Port Harcourt, where Bitrus Kwamoti, chairman of the APC governorship primary election committee, declared Chinda the party’s flagbearer after the conclusion of the primary exercise.
Chinda, who currently represents Rivers State in the House of Representatives, has long been associated with Wike’s political camp. His emergence signals a new phase in the state’s political landscape as the APC positions itself ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Rivers APC primary was closely watched, given the state’s history of intense political rivalry and its strategic importance in national politics. Chinda’s candidacy is expected to shape the contest in a state where both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have strong grassroots structures.
Born in Elelenwo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in 1966, Chinda trained as a lawyer and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1995. He co-founded the law firm Onyeagucha, Chinda & Associates before venturing into politics. He served as Commissioner for Environment in Rivers State between 2008 and 2010 and has represented Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives since 2011. Over time, he rose to become Minority Leader of the House, earning a reputation as a strong voice in parliamentary debates. His emergence as APC’s candidate is widely seen as a move backed by Wike, who has remained a dominant figure in Rivers politics.
Wike, born in Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor in 1967, studied law at Rivers State University of Science and Technology and later obtained a Master’s degree in Political and Administrative Studies. He began his political career as chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government in 1999, later serving as Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi. He was appointed Minister of State for Education in 2011 and later Acting Minister of Education under President Goodluck Jonathan. Wike went on to serve two terms as Governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, where he became known for his bold leadership style and extensive infrastructure projects. In 2022, he contested the PDP presidential primaries, finishing second to Atiku Abubakar, and was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory by President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
Chinda’s candidacy, backed by Wike’s influence, underscores the shifting alliances in Rivers politics. The state has long been a battleground between the APC and PDP, and his emergence is expected to intensify the contest ahead of the 2027 general elections.
