Opah Says Abia Workers, Pensioners, Traders Are His Billboards

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State, Chief Eric Opah, has said workers, pensioners and traders in the state represent his “billboards” as he campaigns ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Opah made the statement while addressing supporters in Umuahia, amid controversy over fees approved for political campaign advertising in Abia State.

The Abia State Structures for Signages and Advertising Agency, ABSSAA, announced in July that governorship candidates would pay N150 million for campaign advertising permits, while presidential candidates would pay N200 million. The agency said the approved rates applied to candidates of all political parties. The fees have since become the subject of legal action, with the Allied Peoples Movement and its presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, filing a suit against the Abia State Government and other defendants over the N200 million presidential campaign advertising fee.

Speaking to supporters, Opah said he would focus his campaign on the experiences of workers, pensioners and traders rather than the controversy surrounding outdoor advertising.

“I have decided to ignore the bad faith being shown by the governor of the day,” Opah said.

“Abia workers are my billboards. Abia pensioners who almost lost their pensions and gratuity are my billboards. The market traders who wake up every day only to be squeezed by heavy taxes are my billboards.”

Opah also said his background as an entrepreneur informed his decision to contest the governorship election.

“I am a builder who has built businesses,” he said.

“Abia at the moment is not being managed well, and that is the reason I am throwing my hat into the ring.”

He said his campaign would continue to focus on the people who contribute to the state’s economy and experience the effects of government policies.

“The people who power Abia’s economy every single day and bear the brunt of bad policies are the only billboards that truly matter,” Opah said.