The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed Chief Eric Opah as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections, rejecting claims that Chief Henry Ikoh emerged winner of the party’s primary election.

The clarification followed a viral video where some individuals alleged that Ikoh, who participated in the primary, was the actual winner and called for the reversal of the announced result. They warned that failure to address their concerns could lead to internal disagreement within the party.

The group also questioned Opah’s emergence, arguing that he was a relatively new member of the APC and not a long-standing stakeholder in the party.

However, addressing journalists during a press conference in Umuahia on Monday, the APC Publicity Secretary in Abia State, Uche Aguoru, insisted that the party’s governorship primary held on May 21, 2026, was conducted properly and produced Opah as the winner.

Aguoru stated that Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh scored 5,905 votes, while Dr Eric Chimucheya Opah secured 125,977 votes to emerge victorious.

“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,” he said.

The party spokesperson explained that Opah joined the APC in 2023 and had since contributed to the growth and activities of the party, including supporting congresses and funding party engagements at ward and local government levels.

He also stated that Opah recorded strong support even in Ikoh’s home 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,” Aguoru said.

Aguoru noted that the party’s National Working Committee had not yet released the final list of candidates, explaining that the APC was still completing internal processes and addressing possible legal concerns related to the primary election.

“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 said.

He urged party members and supporters to remain calm, assuring them that the outcome of the primary election would be respected.

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

The APC spokesperson further alleged that the controversy surrounding the primary was being encouraged by individuals with external political interests who were attempting to create division within 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 alleged.

He maintained that the Abia APC remained united and focused, insisting that attempts to create internal conflict would not affect the party’s preparations for the forthcoming election.