Eric Opah has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State ahead of the 2027 general elections after recording a landslide victory in the party’s governorship primary election.
Opah secured an overwhelming 126,977 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Henry Ikoh, who polled 5,905 votes in the exercise conducted across the state.
The results were announced late Thursday night at the APC secretariat in Umuahia by the chairman of the Abia State Governorship Election Committee and returning officer, Hon. Bartho Lalong.
Declaring the outcome of the primary, Lalong expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the election and commended party members and aspirants for maintaining order and discipline throughout the process.
He described the exercise as transparent, credible and reflective of the democratic principles of the party, noting that the high level of decorum displayed by aspirants and supporters contributed significantly to the success of the primary.
According to him, the APC leadership remained committed to ensuring fairness and internal democracy in the selection of candidates ahead of the next election cycle.
Following the official announcement of the results, Lalong presented a certificate of return to Opah as the duly elected governorship candidate of the APC for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
The presentation of the certificate was greeted with jubilation from supporters and party faithful who gathered at the APC secretariat to witness the announcement.
Supporters of the victorious aspirant celebrated the outcome with songs, chants and displays of party colours, expressing confidence that Opah would provide strong leadership for the party heading into the general election.
Political observers described the margin of victory as a clear demonstration of Opah’s dominance within the party structure in Abia State and a reflection of his growing political influence among APC members.
Party stakeholders noted that the large number of votes secured by Opah underscored the confidence reposed in him by delegates and grassroots members across the state.
They also commended the peaceful atmosphere that characterised the exercise, particularly at a time when internal party contests in several parts of the country have often generated tension and disputes.
Speaking after receiving his certificate of return, Opah reportedly thanked party members for their support and confidence in his leadership.
He pledged to work toward uniting all factions within the party and promised to carry everyone along in the build-up to the 2027 governorship election.
The APC candidate also called on other aspirants and their supporters to join hands with him in strengthening the party and mobilising support across the state.
According to him, the primary election was not about division but about building a stronger political platform capable of providing effective governance and development for the people of Abia State.
Supporters of Opah described him as a grassroots politician with strong connections across the state’s political and business communities.
They expressed optimism that his candidacy would boost the party’s chances in the governorship election and reposition the APC as a formidable force in the state’s political landscape.
Meanwhile, some party leaders who monitored the exercise praised the level of participation by members and described the primary as one of the most peaceful internal elections conducted by the party in recent years.
Security personnel were also commended for maintaining order at voting and collation centres during the exercise.
Political analysts believe the emergence of Opah now sets the stage for intensified political activities in Abia State as parties begin strategic preparations for the 2027 elections.
The governorship race in the state is expected to attract significant national attention given the strategic importance of Abia in the political dynamics of the South-East region.
Observers also noted that the outcome of the APC primary could influence alignments and negotiations among political stakeholders in the coming months.
As celebrations continued among supporters at the APC secretariat in Umuahia, party leaders reiterated the need for unity, reconciliation and sustained mobilisation ahead of the main election.
With the conclusion of the governorship primary, the APC in Abia State is now expected to intensify consultations and campaign preparations as the party seeks to strengthen its position ahead of the 2027 governorship contest.
