The All Progressives Congress has denied reports that it disqualified Eric Opah from the Abia governorship race ahead of Thursday's primary election.
Rumours swept through political circles on Wednesday that the party had barred Opah from contesting, but the APC moved quickly to dispel the claims. The party did not specify what prompted the reports or provide detail on Opah's status as the primary drew near.
Opah had thrown his hat in the ring as one of several aspirants vying for the APC's gubernatorial ticket in Abia State. The Thursday primary was meant to decide who would fly the party's flag in next year's general election, a crucial contest in a state that has remained a PDP stronghold for years.
The APC's denial came without elaborate comment, leaving questions about the source of the disqualification reports and whether Opah faced any other obstacles to his candidacy. Party officials did not address whether other aspirants faced similar issues or outline the clearance process for candidates.
Thursday's primary will determine which aspirant represents the APC in Abia's 2025 gubernatorial election. The outcome could reshape the political equation in a state where the ruling PDP has held sway, though the APC has mounted increasingly competitive challenges in recent elections.
