LAGOS, Nigeria — In a revealing disclosure that highlights the complex intersection of celebrity influence, ethnic identity, and political survival in Nigeria, popular businessman and nightlife entrepreneur Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu, widely recognized as Cubana Chief Priest, has spoken out regarding his standing within the country’s current political hierarchy. The socialite revealed that he believes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu maintains a strong sense of skepticism toward him, suggesting that the presidency views him with suspicion primarily because of his Igbo heritage and his previous high-profile alignment with opposition leader Peter Obi.
The celebrity barman made these provocative assertions during a live interactive broadcast with popular digital streamer Peller on Tuesday evening, May 19, 2026. The widely watched session provided a rare window into the socialite's unfiltered thoughts on the inner workings of Nigerian politics, the transactional nature of political loyalty, and the internal dynamics that led to his own recent legislative ambition suffering a major setback in his home state of Imo.
According to Okechukwu, his energetic and highly visible support for Peter Obi, the Labour Party standard-bearer during the fiercely contested 2023 presidential election, continues to serve as a major political liability within the corridors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite his recent attempts to integrate himself into the president's inner circle, the Imo-born promoter stated that his previous political activism has left a lasting impression that cannot easily be erased by the current handlers of the presidency.
Let me tell you, as I am now, Tinubu doesn’t really trust me as an Igbo man. He looks at me with one eye. He is still like, this one that has worked for Peter Obi before, Okechukwu stated candidly during the live stream, using colloquial terms to illustrate the profound trust deficit he experiences despite his defection to the progressive fold.
The socialite explained that while his initial alignment with Obi was driven by the prevailing political climate of 2023, his subsequent decision to pivot toward President Tinubu and the ruling party was born out of cold political pragmatism. He noted that after evaluating the current structural strength of the ruling establishment and the fragmented nature of the opposition, he came to the definitive conclusion that the former Anambra State governor lacks the necessary institutional machinery to defeat an incumbent president in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Driven by this realization, the nightlife mogul spent recent months executing a public relations turnaround, openly declaring his unalloyed allegiance to President Tinubu and embedding himself within the activities of the City Boys Movement, a prominent pro-Tinubu youth mobilization group active across the southeast region. This strategic realignment was intended to serve as the foundation for his own entry into mainstream governance, culminating in an ambitious bid to secure the APC nomination ticket for the Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
However, his aspiration to transition from the entertainment industry to the green chamber suffered a definitive blow during the recently concluded APC primary process in Imo State. Despite using his massive social media footprint to generate significant momentum, Okechukwu failed to secure the necessary backing of party delegates and local stakeholders, losing the ticket to a more established internal rival.
The political defeat triggered immediate controversy, forcing the socialite into damage-control mode. In an attempt to preserve his public image, Cubana Chief Priest took to his online platforms to claim that he had never officially contested for the legislative position, a statement that stood in sharp contrast to months of campaign activities, consultation meetings, and promotional materials surrounding his candidacy.
His defeat and subsequent denial triggered a wave of reactions across various digital platforms, with numerous social media users mocking his political misfortune. Many political commentators argued that the outcome of the Imo primary serves as a stark reminder that digital popularity and celebrity status do not seamlessly translate into grassroots political capital within Nigeria's highly sophisticated internal party structures.
In the wake of the electoral loss, the businessman received a public show of support from the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, who sought to cushion the blow of the defeat. In a private message that Okechukwu later re-shared on his verified Instagram handle, Seyi Tinubu encouraged the promoter to stay resilient, advising him to remain focused on his long-term goals and to view the temporary setback as an essential learning experience in a larger political journey.
Despite this high-level reassurance, Okechukwu's latest comments regarding ethnic bias and political mistrust have ignited a fierce debate online. Many ardent supporters of Peter Obi, widely known as the Obidient movement, heavily criticized the socialite, accusing him of political opportunism and abandoning a cause he once championed after leveraging the movement's immense goodwill to boost his personal brand during the 2023 cycle.
Conversely, a segment of political realists have defended his shifting alliances, arguing that in the volatile arena of Nigerian politics, permanent interests always supersede permanent friendships. With the 2027 electoral cycle drawing closer, the controversy surrounding Cubana Chief Priest highlights the steep challenges faced by southern cross-carpet politicians as they navigate the delicate balance of gaining institutional trust within a complex federal architecture.
