Rivers State just said, “Hold my zobo.”
In a staggering 24-hour window, what was supposed to be a volatile APC governorship primary turned into a masterclass in political chess. Every single major heavy hitter systematically packed their bags and walked away, rolling out the red carpet for Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda to coast to a smooth coronation as the consensus flagbearer for 2027.
The Domino Effect: 24 Hours, Three Major Retreats
Following intense, high-level stakeholder intervention in Abuja, the race cleared out fast:
- Governor Siminalayi Fubara: The incumbent kicked off the chain reaction, withdrawing to preserve the “peace, stability, and unity” of the state.
- Tonye Cole: Hours later, the billionaire Sahara Group co-founder pulled the plug, citing “party supremacy.”
- Dr. Dax George-Kelly: The BCDA Director-General and Wike loyalist dropped out, leaving Chinda completely unopposed.
From PDP Minority Leader to APC Flagbearer
Let’s appreciate the sheer audacity of this move: Kingsley Chinda is currently the Minority Leader of the House of Reps under the PDP. Yes, the man leading the opposition in Abuja is now the golden boy for the ruling party in Rivers.
When he quietly showed up at the APC screening panel on May 9, people thought it was a political rumor. Turns out, it was checkmate.
The Wike Machinery Locks It Down
Make no mistake—this operation has FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s fingerprints all over it. By engineering this consensus, Wike’s camp has secured absolute dominance over the Rivers APC apparatus heading into 2027.
“By aligning behind a single hand like Kingsley Chinda, the APC has averted a catastrophic internal war.” — APC National Working Committee Source
