Opah Clinches Abia APC Governorship Ticket

International business mogul, Chief Eric Opah, is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 governorship election in Abia State.

Opah clinched the Abia APC  governorship ticket after defeating a former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh in the direct primary conducted across the 184 electoral wards across the state.

‎Announcing the result early Friday morning at the APC State Secretariat, Umuahia , the Returning Officer Barthow Nyelong, said Opah polled 126,977 votes to beat Ikoh, who got 5,905 votes.

‎Nyelong said Opah met all requirements of the APC constitution and guidelines and therefore declared him the winner and the party’s candidate for the 2027 guber election.

Recall that Mascot Uzor Kalu was among the three aspirants cleared to contest for the Abia APC governorship ticket buthis voluntary withdrawal on the eve of the primary left Opah and Ikoh in the race.

Mean while, the Abia APC has “heartily” congratulated Chief Opah on his “successful emergence” as the governorship candidate of the party following the governorship primaries held  on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

The congratulatory message was contained in a statement by the Abia APC Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, shortly after the the results of the governorship primary was announced.

The party, which described Opah as “an internationally renown businessman and distinguished leader,” said it was confident that the shipping magnate “possesses the leadership capacity, vision and experience required to lead our party to victory in the 2027 general elections and return the Government House to Umuahia under the banner of the APC.”

“We commend all aspirants, party faithful, electoral officials, and stakeholders for their commitment to a peaceful, transparent, and credible primary election process which reflects the growing strength and unity of the APC in Abia State,” the statemenot added.

Aguoru urged all members and supporters to remain united and committed “as we collectively work towards delivering purposeful leadership for the people of Abia State.”

Emergence of Opah from Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North local government, has set him against his kinsman and the Labour Party candidate, Governor Alex Otti, who hails from Isiala Ngwa South local government.