The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has firmly stated that Eric Opah remains its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, rejecting any suggestions that the primary was flawed or that another candidate won.
Opah's Victory by a Landslide
The party conducted its governorship primary on Thursday, May 21, 2026, and announced Opah as the winner with 125,977 votes, defeating Henry Ikoh who garnered only 5,905 votes. This outcome followed initial rumors that Opah had been disqualified, which the party promptly denied.
Addressing the Controversy
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, June 22, 2026, Uche Aguoru, the Abia APC spokesperson, dismissed narratives challenging Opah's victory. He refuted claims that Opah was a new member, explaining that Opah joined the party in 2023 and has been actively supporting party activities at local government and ward levels.
Aguoru also countered allegations that Ikoh actually won the primary, pointing out that in Ikoh's own local government area of Ikwuano, Opah scored 3,486 votes against Ikoh's 2,403. According to Aguoru, this demonstrates that even in Ikoh's stronghold, Opah emerged victorious.
Internal Processes and Legal Vetting
Aguoru clarified that the party's National Working Committee is still vetting the final list of candidates to ensure all legal issues are properly addressed. This is a standard internal process.
The Road to 2027
The Abia APC aims to unseat incumbent Governor Alex Otti, who was elected under the Labour Party in 2023 and is seeking reelection. Opah will face Otti and other candidates in the general election. The party previously denied any internal crisis and criticized Otti for allegedly feigning support for President Bola Tinubu's administration while working against it.
