Abia APC Dismisses Ikoh’s Governorship Primary Claim, Says Opah Is Duly Elected Candidate
The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abia State, has dismissed claims by Chief Henry Ikoh that he won the party’s governorship primary election, insisting that the official results clearly established Chief Eric Opah as the winner.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, High Chief Uchenna Aguoru, while reacting to a viral video in which Ikoh reportedly questioned the outcome of the primary, stated that Opah secured victory across the state, including in Ikwuano Local Government Area, where Ikoh hails from. He said available records showed that Ikoh polled 2,403 votes in the Local Government Area, while Opah garnered 3,486 votes.
Aguoru noted that the party had commenced reconciliation efforts aimed at bringing together members who may be dissatisfied with the outcome of the primary, describing the process as a normal post-election exercise.
He maintained that the Abia APC remains united and strong, arguing that the actions of a few individuals cannot undermine a party with a large membership base across the state.
The APC spokesman also alleged that external forces were attempting to create divisions within the party. He accused the Labour Party-led administration in the state of sponsoring activities aimed at destabilising the APC, while contending that the opposition was concerned about the calibre of candidates produced during the party’s primaries.
According to him, the APC is confident of victory in the forthcoming elections and believes its governorship candidate, Chief Eric Opah, is well-positioned to secure the mandate of Abia voters.
Aguoru further appealed to Chief Ikoh to set aside his grievances in the interest of party unity and progress, stressing that political contests often present future opportunities for aspirants.
On the status of former senator Nkechi Nwaogu, he stated that she remains a member of the APC, noting that her name is still contained in the party’s register and that the party has not received any official communication indicating that she has defected to another political platform.
He reiterated that the APC in Abia remains focused on its electoral objectives and would not be distracted by what he described as attempts to create unnecessary controversy within the party.
