'APC will lose again in Abia if ticket isn't given to Ikoh' — founding member warns

A founding father of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has predicted that the party will suffer an even more humiliating defeat in the 2027 governorship election if it fails to correct what he calls a flawed primary.

Hon. Mezie Chiekwe Esiaga, a former House of Representatives member, says the party's ticket should go to former Minister of State for Science and Technology, Chief Henry Ikoh — not to Mr Eric Opah, who emerged as the candidate.

Esiaga told journalists in Umuahia that he saw Opah for the first time on May 14, just hours before the primary. He claims Opah hadn't spent up to two weeks in the party before seeking its highest office in the state.

“To the best of my knowledge, he hadn't spent up to two weeks in the party before seeking its highest office in the state,” Esiaga said.

He questioned how someone who recently praised Governor Alex Otti's performance could now be the APC's candidate to challenge him. Opah had reportedly spoken glowingly about Otti's achievements and even said his kinsmen in Lagos planned to honour the governor.

“How can someone who only a few months ago publicly praised the governor and celebrated his achievements suddenly become the person APC is presenting to challenge that same governor? That's the contradiction I can't understand,” Esiaga said.

The former lawmaker, who says he was one of the party's founders in Abia, warned that refusing to give the ticket to Ikoh would repeat the mistakes that led to the party's poor showing in 2023.

“I'm not a prophet and my father wasn't a prophet, but I'll say this: I warned in 2022 about what would happen in 2023, when APC ticket was given to Ikechi Emenike who wasn't a popular candidate, and my prediction came to pass. If Henry Ikoh isn't on the ballot, history will repeat itself and the outcome may be worse than what APC experienced in the last election,” he said.

Ikoh had earlier rejected the primary outcome and petitioned the party's Appeal Panel. He claims he won the primary after his sole rival, Mascot Kalu, voluntarily withdrew. Ikoh says he was the consensus candidate endorsed by the majority of the State Working Committee members.

Esiaga revealed that he plans to write President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, saying: “This isn't about personal interest. It's about saving our party from another avoidable defeat. The leadership must act before it's too late.”

Aggrieved party members are demanding a review of the primary, insisting that if the controversy isn't resolved amicably, the party may be heading for disaster in 2027.