Abia APC Crisis Deepens: Group Rejects Eric Opah as Guber Candidate, Says He’s Not Party Member

UMUAHIA – The internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in Abia State took a new turn on Tuesday as a group, Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Abia State Chapter, disowned Eric Opah as winner of the party’s governorship primary.

In a rejoinder to a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, the group described as “a shame” the claim that Opah had been an APC member since 2023.

“It is a shame that our Publicity Secretary will come to tell the public that the acclaimed winner of the gubernatorial primary elections, Mr Eric Opah has been our party member since 2023,” the statement said.

Disputes Membership Claim
Citing what it called “certified true copies” of INEC and APC membership registers from Umunna Nsulu Ward 2, Opah’s ward, the group insisted that “evidence available to us and the general public proves that Mr Eric Opah is not a known member of our great party.”

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors alleged that Opah is “a mole and a placeholder planted by opponents to undermine the prevailing peace, unity, and cohesion amongst members of our party.”

Backs Ikoh as ‘Authentic Winner’
The group maintained that Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh remains the “adjudged authentic winner” of the statewide primary election by members and stakeholders.

“Mr Opah’s claim to win the APC gubernatorial primary elections will collapse and not stand the test of time,” it said, adding that Ikoh “is on top of the matter and will retrieve and secure his stolen mandate.”

Appeal to Supporters
The statement urged supporters of Chief Ikoh and “all concerned members” of the APC to “stay calm, focused, and vigilant as our collective mandate will be recovered.”

The rejoinder was signed by Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Abia State Chapter.

Background
The dispute follows a press release issued Monday by Abia APC Publicity Secretary Uche Aguoru, which affirmed Opah’s membership of the party since 2023. The latest development signals a deepening rift over the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the elections.

Attempts to reach Eric Opah and Uche Aguoru for comments were unsuccessful as of press time.