The path appears clear for Ogundu Chinda, a member of the 10th National Assembly representing the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency and an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to secure the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship ticket in Rivers State.
This follows the withdrawal of incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the APC governorship race ahead of Thursday’s primary election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Fubara said his decision to step down from the contest was driven by his commitment to peace and stability in Rivers State.
Moments after Fubara’s announcement, George-Kelly Alabo also withdrew from the APC gubernatorial race.
Earlier, the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, had equally announced his withdrawal from the 2027 governorship contest.
The exit of Fubara, Cole, and Alabo from the race is widely seen as boosting Chinda’s chances of clinching the APC governorship ticket.
The development comes amid heightened political activities in the state, with Wike recently arriving in Port Harcourt ahead of the party’s governorship primary.
The latest twist also signals that Fubara will not seek re-election as Rivers State governor in 2027.
Fubara and Wike have remained embroiled in a prolonged political feud despite several reconciliation efforts and peace agreements.
Reacting to the withdrawals, human rights lawyer Chetam Nwala claimed the governor was never genuinely interested in the race.
“He has never been in the race. He was pretending all along, as he has always done,” Nwala said.
