2027: Abia APC insists Opah remains governorship candidate

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has insisted that Chief Eric Opah remains the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections, dismissing claims that Chief Henry Ikoh won the party’s primaries.

The clarification followed a viral video in which some individuals alleged that Ikoh, who lost the primaries, was actually the winner and demanded a reversal of the result, warning that the party could face internal crisis if their demand was ignored.

The group also questioned Opah’s emergence, claiming he was a new entrant into the party and not a known stakeholder.

However, reacting during a press conference in Umuahia on Monday, the APC Publicity Secretary in Abia State, Uche Aguoru, maintained that the party conducted its governorship primaries on May 21, 2026, and that Opah emerged the winner.

He said, “The governorship primary that was held on May 21 saw Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh scoring 5,905 votes, while Dr. Eric Chimucheya Opah scored 125,977 votes to emerge winner of that election.”

Aguoru explained that Opah joined the APC in 2023 and had been actively contributing to the growth of the party, including supporting its congresses and financing party activities at the local government and ward levels.

He added that Opah also performed strongly even in Ikoh’s local government area.

“In Ikwuano, the local government of Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, he scored 2,403 votes, while Chief Eric Opah scored 3,486 votes in the same area, showing that even in his own locality, he was defeated by Opah,” he said.

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The APC spokesperson noted that the National Working Committee had yet to release the final list of candidates, adding that internal processes were still being reviewed to address any legal issues surrounding the primaries.

According to him, “The party is going through due process to ensure that all legal issues surrounding the candidacy are properly addressed. We are a progressive party guided by democratic principles.”

He urged party members to remain calm, insisting that the outcome of the primaries would stand.

“No one should panic. The results that were voted for will be respected. We went through a very thorough democratic process,” he said.

Aguoru also alleged that the controversy was being fuelled by external interests seeking to destabilise the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Some of these people are being sponsored by other political parties. They are afraid of the quality of candidates we have presented. What they are doing is trying to create crisis and confusion within the party,” he said.

He insisted that the APC in Abia State remained united and focused, adding that efforts to create internal division would not succeed.