The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced international businessman, Mr. Eric Opah, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections in Abia State, alongside candidates for the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

Three aspirants — Mascot Uzor Kalu, Henry Ikoh, and Eric Opah — were initially cleared to contest the governorship primary.

However, Mascot Uzor Kalu withdrew from the race on Wednesday, a day before the exercise, leaving Ikoh and Opah to battle for the party’s ticket.

Chairman of the Abia State Governorship and State House of Assembly Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Bartho Nyelong, declared Opah winner of the primary after polling 125,977 votes to defeat Ikoh, who secured 5,905 votes.

The party also announced winners of its National Assembly and State House of Assembly primaries conducted across the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Abia APC Publicity Secretary, Comrade Uche Aguoru, said the candidates emerged through what he described as peaceful, transparent, and credible primary elections.

House of Representatives Candidates

For the House of Representatives primaries held on May 16, the following candidates emerged:

Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency – Hon. Chris Nkwonta

Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbor Federal Constituency – Chief Udo Alozie

Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency – Hon. Uzo Azubuike

Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency – Chief Uzo Ihuka

Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency – Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji

Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency – Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha

Bende Federal Constituency – Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu

Ohafia/Arochukwu Federal Constituency – Mr. Ikenna Ukwa

Senatorial Candidates

For the senatorial primaries held on May 18, the APC announced:

Abia North Senatorial District – Senator Orji Uzor Kalu

Abia Central Senatorial District – Hon. Emeka Atuma

Abia South Senatorial District – Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jr.

State House of Assembly Candidates

The party also released the names of candidates for the State House of Assembly elections:

Aba North – Aaron Emmanuel Azubuike

Aba South – Akpulonu Chinedu

Arochukwu – Ike Okoroafor

Bende North – Orji Udeagha

Ikwuano – Ishiowu Chika

Isiala Ngwa North – Alex Chibuikem

Isiala Ngwa South – Esihe Chibuzo Patrick

Aba Central – Nwobilo Peace Ulonnaya

Isuikwuato – Chimaobi Agbaeze Victor

Obingwa East – Justice Ihuoma Ogbonna

Obingwa West – Maduka Akpulonu

Ohafia North – Otuwe Kalu Oji

Ohafia South – Nelson Uchechukwu

Osisioma North – Iheyinna Ositadinma Mgbeahuru

Osisioma South – Iheanacho Godwin Ogumnka

Ugwunagbo – Samuel Eze Nwanganga

Ukwa East – Adiele Edwin Ekeke

Ukwa West – Silvanus Nwaji

Umuahia Central – Prince Mayor Ukaegbu

Umuahia East – Nwachukwu Chimezie Innocent

Umuahia North – Okwulehe Onyendi

Umuahia South – Chibuike Peter Onyeulo

Umunneochi – Uche Ebere Stanley

Aguoru congratulated all successful candidates and expressed confidence in their ability to provide effective representation and advance the APC’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

“We are confident in their capacity to provide effective and people-oriented representation at the National Assembly while advancing the ideals of the APC and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” he said.

The party also commended aspirants, delegates, officials, and stakeholders for ensuring a peaceful and credible primary election process across the state.

Certificates of return were subsequently presented to the successful candidates.