The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State, Eric Opah, has dismissed speculation regarding potential alliances with other political parties ahead of the 2027 general election. He maintained that he remains fully in the race to unseat the current state governor, Alex Otti.
Opah spoke to journalists in Umuahia on Saturday to clear the air on ongoing talks suggesting he might merge campaigns with rival flagbearers, according to Punch. He explained that as the candidate of the ruling national party, he possesses the right vision and credentials to lead Abia, suggesting that any contenders interested in partnerships should step down and join his platform instead.
Outlining his policy focus, Opah said his administration would re-evaluate the state's tax system, which he argued has placed an excessive financial burden on local businesses and households. While stating that revenue generation is essential, he stressed that taxation must not oppress citizens.
The APC candidate also pledged to look into the mass disengagement of civil servants in the state, ensure local council funds are used properly, and widen access to healthcare. In addition, Opah listed industrialisation, job creation, civil service promotions, and fair transport sector competition to bring down fares as key parts of his manifesto.
Opah further criticised governance that relies heavily on publicity, promising that his administration would avoid announcing unfinished projects. He stated that the APC would operate a government driven by empathy and transparency rather than one focused on social media attention.
Commenting on national politics, Opah expressed strong support for the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu. He argued that Tinubu has delivered key interventions for the South-East region and called on leaders across all political parties to back his second term in office.
