2027: Opah Promises Transparent Governance as APC Unveils Agu Egbe as Running Mate

The 2027 Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State, Chief Eric Opah, has pledged to deploy the state’s resources for the development and benefit of Abians if elected.

Opah made the commitment during the official unveiling of his running mate, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe, at the APC State Secretariat in Umuahia.

He promised that an APC administration under his leadership would uphold transparency, honesty and integrity in the management of public resources, stressing that government projects would not be inflated under his watch.

The APC governorship candidate also said his administration would review the existing tax regime, create employment opportunities and ensure judicious application of public funds, as part of efforts to improve the welfare of residents.

Explaining his choice of Agu Egbe as running mate, Opah said he spent more than two weeks assessing his professional background, character and competence before settling for him.

He disclosed that he contacted Agu Egbe’s former employer, BUA International, for an independent assessment and also consulted party leaders before reaching the decision.

Opah described his running mate as a man of integrity who would make both the APC and Abia State proud, adding that Agu Egbe had fully aligned with the party’s manifesto and vision.

The APC State Chairman, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, formally presented Agu Egbe to members of the State Working Committee and State Executive Council, describing him as a candidate with the goodwill of the people.

Responding, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him by Opah and the APC leadership, pledging total loyalty to his principal and commitment to the party’s manifesto.

Agu Egbe said he shared a common vision with Opah and would subordinate his personal interests to the party’s programme while working to secure victory for the APC in the 2027 election.

He also pledged to support the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and work towards securing a decisive victory for the APC in Abia State.

On the expected difference an APC government would make, Agu Egbe acknowledged that Governor Alex Otti was contributing to the development of the state, but argued that his party had identified areas where governance could be optimised to deliver greater value to Abians.

He said:
“Work is being done, nobody is taking that away. But when you take a close evaluation, you will see areas where Abians deserve more. And that more is what we are bringing.”

According to him, the APC has studied governance in Abia through measurement, evaluation and learning, identifying areas where improvements are needed.

He said the party was presenting what he described as a “superior alternative” to the people, expressing confidence that Abians would support the APC in 2027.

On the possibility of establishing a cement factory in Abia, given his previous experience at BUA International, Agu Egbe said industrial decisions would be guided by the party’s manifesto and the prevailing realities of the state, rather than his personal background.

He, however, outlined his economic philosophy as household-focused development, arguing that improving the livelihood of families would stimulate broader economic growth and eventually drive industrialisation.

Agu Egbe explained that when households become economically stronger, they contribute more to the aggregate growth of the state, creating the foundation for organic industrial development.

On his political journey, the APC deputy governorship candidate said his involvement in politics began early, including serving as President-General of his community and supporting political movements from ANPP to CPC and eventually APC.

He said his admiration for former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a major factor in his commitment to the APC, describing the emergence of both leaders in the party as a “dream come true.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe, aged 57, hails from Ameeke-Elu, Ovim, in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.

He is a Project Management and Financial Sector Specialist with more than 27 years of professional experience spanning development finance, pension administration, agribusiness development, institutional capacity building and strategic business advisory services.

He has held senior leadership and technical advisory positions in consulting, financial services and development-focused institutions in Nigeria and Ghana.

Agu Egbe is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sane-Konsult International Limited, where he provided strategic leadership in enterprise development, project management, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning, as well as institutional advisory services.

He previously served as Deputy General Manager and Project Manager at BUA International, where he worked on strategic initiatives involving cotton value-chain development and industrial cluster projects.

He has also provided technical support to financial institutions, development programmes and agribusiness initiatives under organisations including USAID/Connexus Corporation and the African Development Bank Group.

His areas of expertise include agricultural finance, business development, risk management, operational planning, stakeholder engagement and institutional strengthening. He is also a researcher with publications covering financial mathematics, pension systems and financial inclusion.

Agu Egbe is married to Lolo Lilian Ukachi Egbe, and they have five children—three girls and two boys.

With the unveiling, the APC says it is entering the 2027 governorship contest with a clear objective: to win the election and provide an administration focused on transparency, economic opportunity, accountability and what the party describes as better and more optimised governance for Abians.

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