Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has publicly declared his support for Kingsley Chinda, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) backed by the Rainbow Coalition led by his predecessor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The declaration was made on Wednesday, July 22, during the commissioning of the Rivers Medical Industries Project in Port Harcourt.
Fubara Endorses Chinda as Preferred Successor
Speaking at the event, Fubara stated that peace has been achieved in the state and that there is a total agreement among political stakeholders. He explicitly endorsed Chinda as the governorship candidate he is supporting, urging all his followers to back the Rainbow Coalition candidates. “We have made peace in the state, and we have a total agreement. I am supporting our rainbow party, our rainbow coalition. President Bola Tinubu is our president and is the one we are supporting. OK Chinda is the governorship candidate that I am supporting, and anybody who believes in me will support him and every candidate under the rainbow,” Fubara said.
The governor also addressed those urging him to delay support, saying, “For those of you saying, ‘Fubara, let’s stay, we want to collect something before we run,’ there is nothing to collect. I am already in the family. I have gone back to our family. So please, wherever you are, give your total support to that coalition.”
Chinda's Primary Victory and Fubara's Withdrawal
Kingsley Chinda emerged as the APC governorship candidate after winning the party's primary in May with 268,497 votes. Fubara had initially been screened alongside Chinda but later stepped down from the race, citing conviction and sacrifice for the peace and unity of Rivers State. The APC screening committee reportedly disqualified several of Fubara’s allies from the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries while clearing aspirants loyal to Wike.
Background of Political Feud
Fubara and Wike had been locked in a prolonged political feud that triggered efforts by lawmakers loyal to the FCT minister to impeach the governor. Both camps eventually reached a political truce, leading to the current show of unity. Fubara's endorsement of Chinda marks a significant shift in Rivers State politics, signaling a consolidation of support behind the APC and the Rainbow Coalition.
