APC Announces Rivers Assembly Member As Chinda’s Running Mate
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has picked the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Major Jack, as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Politics Nigeria understands that the development was confirmed on Tuesday by the party’s Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Ikenga Chibike.
Jack’s emergence completes the APC’s governorship ticket as the party prepares to challenge for control of Rivers State in the 2027 election.
Chinda emerged as the APC governorship candidate after the party’s primary election conducted in May 2026.
The selection of Jack was reportedly influenced by the need to achieve geographical balance on the ticket and consolidate the party’s support base across the state, particularly in riverine communities
Jack joined the APC in December 2025 alongside the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers.
His selection as Chinda’s running mate also comes against the backdrop of renewed political engagements among key actors in the state, including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Fubara recently met privately with Wike at the minister’s residence in Port Harcourt. The governor was accompanied by former APC Deputy National Chairman, Sam Sam Jaja.
Also present at the meeting were Chinda and former Senator Magnus Abe, who chairs the Rainbow Coalition Reconciliation Committee.
The meeting has renewed attention on efforts to reconcile the political camps associated with Wike and Fubara, whose relationship deteriorated sharply after Fubara succeeded Wike as governor in 2023.
Their political dispute triggered a prolonged crisis involving the governor, the State House of Assembly and rival political blocs. At the peak of the confrontation, lawmakers aligned with Wike commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
The crisis later escalated to the point where President Bola Tinubu intervened and declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
A subsequent political settlement eased the confrontation, with Fubara eventually aligning with the APC camp and backing the Rainbow Coalition associated with Wike and his allies.
Fubara has also abandoned plans to seek re-election as governor in 2027, a development that has significantly altered the political calculations in the state.
The governor had earlier declared that he had returned to the political family associated with Wike and urged his supporters to support the emerging coalition.
“I am already in the family. I have returned to our family. Give your total support to the coalition. The time of war is over; it is now time for peace, and that peace will take us to another level,” Fubara said.
He also pledged to avoid actions that could reignite the political crisis.
“I am not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. We have done what we need to do, and now we are moving forward,” he added.
Wike subsequently welcomed Fubara’s decision to return to the political structure, dismissing suggestions that the governor was required to apologise for rejoining the political family that backed his emergence as governor.
