International business mogul Eric Opah scores a landslide primary win, vowing to reposition Abia State as the APC prepares to challenge the ruling party.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared renowned international businessman Chief Eric Opah as the definitive winner of its governorship primary election ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Returning Officer and Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Bartho Nyelong, announced the highly anticipated results at the party’s secretariat in Umuahia on Thursday night, confirming a landslide outcome.
According to the final official tally, Opah polled a staggering 126,977 votes to soundly defeat his closest rival, the former Minister of State for Science and Innovations, Chief Henry Ikoh, who managed to secure 5,905 votes.
Nyelong explained that the massive numbers were collated from all 17 Local Government Areas following a smooth, decentralized voting process conducted across the state’s 184 wards. He certified that Opah successfully met every constitutional requirement and electoral guideline mandated by the party, officially making him the APC’s standard-bearer for the upcoming governorship poll.
The committee chairman characterized the entire electoral process as transparent, remarkably peaceful, and a true reflection of the deep-seated democratic spirit thriving within the party’s rank and file, while warmly commending the delegates and party supporters for maintaining strict discipline throughout the night.
Upon concluding the declaration, Nyelong presented Opah with his formal Certificate of Return, cementing his status as the party’s candidate. Meanwhile, the state leadership of the APC has flooded the businessman with congratulations, openly expressing their renewed optimism to unseat the current Labour Party-led administration of Governor Alex Otti.
In an official statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, the party described Opah as a distinguished leader possessing the unique vision, corporate experience, and executive strength required to thoroughly reposition the state.
Looking forward to the main election, the party leadership urged all its members and grassroot supporters to remain deeply united, focused, and committed as they collectively work toward delivering purposeful, welfare-driven governance for the people of Abia State.
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