APC Abia Guber Primary: Ikoh Lost in Ikwuano as Eric Opah Emerged Winner

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has dismissed claims of irregularities surrounding its 2026 governorship primary election, insisting that Dr. Eric Chukwucheya Opah emerged winner after defeating other aspirant, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, who was reportedly beaten in his immediate community, Ikwuano Local Government Area.
The party said the exercise was transparent and monitored by stakeholders across the state.”

“The controversy surrounding the APC Abia governorship primary election has taken a fresh turn as the party leadership moves to defend its candidate, declaring that the results speak for themselves. In a strong rebuttal to opposing claims, APC Publicity Secretary Uche Aguoru insisted that Dr. Eric Chukwucheya Oba won the exercise convincingly, while revealing that Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh was defeated even in Ikwuano, his home local government area.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State chapter, has broken its silence over the controversy trailing its governorship primary election, rejecting claims questioning the credibility of the exercise and maintaining that the outcome was clear and decisive.

Aguoru, during a Press conference yesterday, at the party’s secretariat, in Umuahia, the state capital, said the primary election held on May 21, 2026, across the wards in Abia State was conducted transparently, with journalists, party stakeholders, and observers monitoring the process from various local government areas to the final collation centre.

According to the party, the results announced by the electoral committee from the national leadership of the APC showed that Dr. Eric Chukwucheya Opah emerged winner ahead of other contenders.

The party said Chief Barry Igetiku Ikweko scored 5,959 votes, while Dr. Eric Opah secured 125,977 votes in the announced results.

However, while addressing claims surrounding Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh’s support base, Aguoru insisted that the results contradicted narratives being circulated, adding that Ikoh was defeated in Ikwuano Local Government Area.

The APC spokesperson said Dr. Eric Oba scored 3,456 votes in Ikwa/Ikwuano against Chief Ikoh’s 2,403 votes, describing the result as evidence of the candidate’s acceptance among party delegates.

Aguoru expressed disappointment over what he described as misleading commentaries from some individuals who participated in the process but later questioned the outcome.

“It becomes very embarrassing to see that some people will go back and start stating some things that are obviously out of place. I don’t really blame them,” Aguoru said.

He added: “You know, in a beer parlour, where some people take stuff and get high, the tendency for them to say certain things that are not even correct and which they’ll definitely regret is high.”

The party spokesman also humorously referenced a viral video allegedly showing one of the critics appearing tired during a discussion, saying: “In the video, you can see one of them was even sleeping.”

On claims that the APC should adopt Chief Henry Ikoh through a consensus arrangement, Aguoru explained that the party’s guidelines require any aspirant stepping down to formally withdraw in writing.

He cited Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu as an example, noting that the aspirant officially withdrew from the race to support the party’s process.

The APC leadership also dismissed questions about Dr. Eric Oba’s membership of the party, describing such claims as “laughable.”

According to Aguoru, Dr. Oba joined the APC from the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and had contributed significantly to the party’s growth.

The party maintained that the governorship primary election followed due process, urging members and stakeholders to rely on verified information rather than social media claims capable of creating confusion.