Former Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Henry Ikoh, has said that if the opportunity presents itself again he will contest for the governorship seat in Abia State, come 2027.

This was even as the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti has been commended for doing well but reminded that hunger is too much in the state.

Ikoh, the Ahuwa Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government Area-born business guru and an All Progressive Congress stalwart stated this on Sunday as he celebrated the 2025 Easter with party faithful and friends in his country home.

Fielding questions from newsmen as party youths, carrying placards besieged him, asking him to run for Abia governorship seat, come 2027, Ikoh said, “Well, everybody is free to have his or her own opinion. They are Abians and are free to say whatever thing they say, but I think it is rather too early. I also want to say that when we get to the bridge, we will cross.

“I also want to emphasize strongly that I am a politician who has tried to rule this state in the past and if the opportunity plays itself out again, you can be sure that I will hold the bull by the horns” He said that “the occasion is not empowerment, we are celebrating the Easter period for unity, oneness, togetherness, and love.

This is why I called my party faithful and other few friends to come and celebrate with me today because the Lord has risen and we are happy to celebrate with the people, particularly as politicians because every politics is local.

“I am celebrating the local people because they are the engine room. They are the people who vote anybody into power. That is why I deemed it necessary to come and interact with them and rejoice with them and that was the essence of this meeting and also to pray to God because God who has taken us this far, will perfect all our beliefs, particularly in Abia State.”

He urged party faithful to remain resolute, and work sincerely for the APC “because I know, come 2027, APC will rule Nigeria and also takeover the state.”

Also speaking, the state Coordinator of Team Wazobia Nigeria for Tinubu 2027, Chief Awa Jeremiah noted, “Henry Ikoh has contested for the governorship about three times. Youths have found him capable of being the governor. He has been a minister and has fought for other positions. But today. If God permits Ikoh to be the governor of this state, he will do more because he is good in infrastructure and industry.

“As an industrialist, he will do more and will ensure that youths get more jobs. Job opportunities matter because while building infrastructure, factories and companies, there is the opportunity of creating more jobs for youths that graduated from the universities.”

Meanwhile, the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti has been commended for doing well but has also been reminded that hunger is too much in the state and as a result therefore, the governor and government of the state have been advised to wake up and see how people can put themselves together in the state.

This advice came from the Abia State Coordinator for Team Wazobia Nigeria for Tinubu 2027, Chief Awa Jeremiah in Ikwuano Local Government Area, stating, “A lot of things are going on well in Abia and I cannot say that the governor of the state is not doing well. He is performing and what we are seeing, building some roads and all that, I give him some kudos on that, but he has to do more.

“As far as Abia State is concerned, I feel they need more hands. More especially, I advise the governor to go back to the grassroots. People are hungry. I know that in terms of infrastructure, he is doing well, but it is too clear that when you are working, people have to eat and when people are not eating, nothing is going on.

“There are the people who are going to come back tomorrow to come and give you that vote again. But right now, I see that hunger is too much in Abia.”

The APC chieftain therefore pleaded with Governor Otti, “So, we are begging that the governor and government of this state should wake up and see how people can put themselves together.

“We are lacking job opportunities. Some graduates are wasting and have not gotten jobs, and with the governor of the state, information can get to the President to know that people need more assistance and help in the state.

“For now, I know that in due time, all these things will stop because we plead with Abia State government based on the good governance of the state, that the governor is doing well in infrastructure, but the other way round, he has to come back.



https://punchng.com/ex-minister-may-contest-2027-abia-gov-poll-as-pro-apc-group-warns-otti-over-hunger/