The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has selected the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Major M. Jack, as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, ahead of the 2027 election.
Jack’s emergence completes the APC’s governorship ticket in Rivers State as the Party intensifies preparations for the next governorship contest.
The development was confirmed by the Rivers State APC Publicity Secretary, Ikenga Chibike, who disclosed the choice to journalists on Tuesday.
With the decision, Jack will contest the 2027 Rivers State governorship election alongside Chinda, who secured the APC ticket earlier in the year.
Jack represents Akuku-Toru Constituency I in the Rivers State House of Assembly and currently serves as the Majority Leader of the legislature. Reports identifying him as Chinda’s running mate say his selection followed consultations among Party stakeholders and members of the political coalition backing the APC ticket.
The choice is also being viewed within the context of the APC’s efforts to achieve geographical balance on its ticket. Jack is from the riverine part of Rivers State, and his selection is expected to help the Party strengthen its appeal in communities across the riverine areas.
The APC is hoping that the combination of Chinda and Jack will give the Party a broader political reach as it prepares to challenge other parties in the 2027 governorship election.
Chinda Emerged APC Governorship Candidate
Chinda became the APC’s governorship candidate after the Party’s primary election in May 2026.
The primary, held in Port Harcourt, ended with Chinda emerging as the sole aspirant after other contenders withdrew from the race. The Party’s governorship primary election committee, led by Bitrus Kwamoti, declared Chinda the winner after the collation of results from the State’s 23 local government areas.
Chinda was credited with 268,497 votes in the exercise.
His emergence came amid intense political realignments in Rivers State, particularly following the political developments involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and influential figures within the State’s political structure.
Chinda, a lawyer and federal lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, had been associated with the political camp of former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The APC’s decision to field Chinda was consequently seen as an important development in the political calculations surrounding the 2027 election.
Jack’s Political Background
Major Jack is a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly and has emerged as one of the prominent figures in the current legislative leadership of the State.
He represents Akuku-Toru Constituency I and has served as Majority Leader of the Assembly. His political base in the riverine area is considered one of the factors behind his selection as Chinda’s deputy.
Jack joined the APC in December 2025 alongside the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and several other lawmakers.
Their defection was part of a broader political realignment in Rivers State that saw several State lawmakers move into the APC camp.
The decision to pair Jack with Chinda therefore brings together two politicians with strong legislative backgrounds while also giving the APC ticket representation across different parts of the State.
APC Seeks Stronger Grassroots Support
The geographical consideration behind Jack’s selection is expected to be significant as the 2027 election approaches.
Rivers State has a politically diverse population spread across upland and riverine communities, making regional balance an important factor for major political parties when assembling their governorship tickets.
Jack’s roots in Akuku-Toru provide the APC with a candidate who can potentially strengthen its presence in the riverine communities.
Earlier reports had already identified Jack as one of the names being considered for the deputy governorship slot, particularly because of the need to balance Chinda’s ticket geographically.
His eventual selection now formally settles the question of who will deputise Chinda on the APC ticket.
The Party will hope that the arrangement can translate into stronger grassroots mobilisation and wider acceptance of its candidates across Rivers State.
2027 Contest Takes Shape
The APC’s completed ticket adds another layer to what is expected to be a closely watched governorship contest in Rivers State.
Political activities in the State have intensified ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and political alliances already positioning themselves for the race.
Chinda’s selection as the APC candidate in May was one of the major developments in the State’s political landscape. The Party has now followed that decision by naming Jack as his running mate.
The APC’s ticket is also coming at a time when political alliances in Rivers State continue to evolve, with different political camps working to consolidate their influence ahead of the election.
Chinda’s candidacy has attracted considerable attention because of his political experience at the federal level and his connection to the State’s broader political realignments.
With Jack now joining him on the ticket, the APC has presented a combination that the Party believes can appeal to voters across different sections of Rivers State.
The coming months are expected to see increased campaign activity as the APC and its rivals begin to sell their programmes and candidates to the electorate.
For the APC, the immediate task will be to consolidate its internal structure, strengthen its grassroots network and translate the political advantage of its alliances into electoral support.
The selection of Major Jack as Chinda’s running mate marks an important step in that process as the Party moves towards the 2027 Rivers State governorship election.