Abuja – Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor ship candidate for Rivers State in the 2027 general election, has pledged to govern with the fear of God if elected, declaring that peace, unity and inclusive leadership would form the foundation of his administration.
Hon. Chinda made the pledge during the unveiling of candidates under the Rainbow Coalition at the Yakubu Gowon Township Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, where a large crowd of party faithful gathered for a political mobilisation event centred on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid and the 2027 governorship contest.
The candidate said the coalition’s candidates would work together towards electoral victory and the formation of a government that would rise above rancour, division and exclusive claims to political entitlement.
His declaration placed unity at the centre of his campaign message, as he presented the Rainbow Coalition as a platform for bringing different political interests together in pursuit of a common political objective.
Clad in white with blue accents, party insignia and campaign images of himself and President Tinubu, Hon. Chinda appeared before supporters as the coalition unveiled candidates seeking various elective offices across Rivers State.
He said he would govern Rivers with the fear of God from May 29, 2027, if elected, while emphasising the importance of peace and cohesion to the state’s development.
Hon. Chinda commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, for the political strategy behind the Rainbow Coalition, describing the initiative as an exercise in bipartisan political cooperation.
According to him, the Coalition brings together structures from about seven political parties under a common umbrella, with the stated objectives of securing Tinubu’s re-election, supporting his own governorship ambition and mobilising votes for other coalition candidates.
The arrangement seeks to reduce political fragmentation by encouraging candidates from different party platforms to coordinate their campaigns around shared electoral goals.
Hon. Chinda said the initiative was driven by the need to promote peace, unity and state cohesion, arguing that these were necessary conditions for sustained development and progress in Rivers State.
He pledged that his proposed administration would avoid the divisions and bitterness associated with partisan rivalry, promising instead a government that would prioritise collective interests.
The Coalition’s unveiling, however, marks the beginning of its political mobilisation, with its ability to sustain cooperation among the participating parties to be tested as the 2027 elections approach.
Wike used the gathering to urge Rivers residents to vote for Tinubu as president, Hon. Chinda as governor and other candidates endorsed under the Rainbow Coalition.
The FCT Minister, who energised supporters with his characteristic dance moves during musical interludes, reinforced the call for a coordinated campaign across the different political platforms represented at the event.
He also appealed to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates nationwide to support Tinubu’s re-election, extending his political message beyond Rivers State.
The appeal reflects the Coalition’s broader ambition to mobilise support across party lines while consolidating a common electoral position in Rivers.
For the Coalition, the challenge will be to translate the public show of solidarity into coordinated grassroots mobilisation and votes across the state’s constituencies.
Incumbent Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara drew cheers from the crowd when he appeared at the gathering to hand over flags to candidates representing the different political parties within the coalition.
His appearance added another dimension to the event, as supporters received the flag presentation as a visible demonstration of the coalition’s effort to project a common political front ahead of 2027.
Gov Fubara also reinforced the gathering’s message concerning Wike’s leadership role in Rivers politics, as coalition supporters were urged to maintain a shared direction towards the coming elections.
The flag presentation served as a symbolic endorsement of the candidates unveiled at the event, although their eventual performance will depend on the campaigns and electoral processes ahead.
Earlier speakers urged Rivers residents to support Tinubu’s re-election, citing federal appointments attributed to indigenes of the state and infrastructure projects as evidence of the benefits of the administration’s engagement with Rivers.
They claimed that Rivers had received more than 50 notable federal appointments and highlighted the establishment of the Federal University of Environment as well as the Bonny–Bodo Road project.
The road was presented as a major infrastructure intervention, with speakers stressing its significance in improving access to Bonny by road after years of limited connectivity.
They argued that these appointments and projects should feature prominently in voters’ assessment of the Federal Government’s record and the state’s relationship with the centre.
The claims formed part of the Coalition’s campaign argument for continued support for Tinubu, although the rally did not provide a detailed breakdown of the appointments or a financial assessment of the projects.
For Hon. Chinda, the Rainbow Coalition unveiling offered an opportunity to outline the values he says would guide his proposed administration.
His pledge to govern with the fear of God, coupled with promises of unity and an inclusive approach, was directed at voters concerned about political division and the need for stability in Rivers State.
The Coalition is now seeking to turn its gathering of political figures, candidates and party supporters into a coordinated campaign for the 2027 elections.
With Tinubu’s re-election, Hon. Chinda’s governorship bid and the candidacies of other coalition members tied to the same mobilisation effort, the initiative has placed political cooperation at the centre of its strategy.
Whether the alliance can maintain unity among its participating parties and translate its endorsements into votes will become clearer as the campaigns progress.
For Hon. Chinda, the central promise has been made: if elected, he says, he will govern Rivers State with the fear of God and pursue peace and unity as foundations for development.
