As 2027 draws closer, one name is gaining momentum in Abia’s governorship race – Chief Eric Opah, flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Beyond politics, Opah comes with a strong entrepreneurial pedigree. He is the CEO of Fortune Global Shipping and Logistics, a Board Member of the Nigeria-America Chamber of Commerce, and winner of The Sun Entrepreneur of the Year 2025. Supporters describe him as a builder who started from scratch and turned ideas into jobs.
That business mindset is what many say Abia needs. To them, Aba is not just a slogan but a business hub that needs power, access roads and markets – something a businessman understands firsthand.
Another strength people point to is his philanthropy. Through the Eric Opah Foundation, established in 2016, he has funded scholarships, healthcare support, and community projects, including a town hall and health centre in Mbubo-Nsulu.
On the campaign trail, Opah has struck a different tone. He calls Abia workers, pensioners and traders his “billboards”, saying his strength lies with the people, not just structures. Many who have interacted with him have also highlighted his rare listening virtue – a leader who listens to understand and solve, not to deflect.
For his supporters in Old Aba Division and across the 17 LGAs, Opah represents competence, fairness and renewal. As one stakeholder put it, “You cannot give what you do not have. You cannot build Abia if you have never built anything.”
As the race heats up, the question many are asking is simple: does Abia need a caretaker or a builder?
Emmanuel Achilihu writes from Amade Nvosi.
Spotlight: Why Abians Are Talking About Eric Opah ~ Emmanuel Achilihu
