According to a report by Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, May 17, 2026,Celebrity businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has responded to reports claiming that he lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency seat in Imo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.…....
Reacting through a statement posted on his Instagram page, the businessman clarified that he voluntarily stepped down from the race after consultations with Hope Uzodimma, who reportedly explained the zoning arrangement adopted by the party within the federal constituency.
According to Okechukwu, the governor informed him that his local government area was not yet scheduled to produce the next representative for the constituency under the existing political understanding within the party structure. He said he respected the arrangement and decided not to proceed further with his ambition.
The socialite explained that after the discussion with Governor Uzodimma, he completely stayed away from the primary election venue and later returned to Lagos without taking part in any voting process or political contest.
His clarification appears to be aimed at countering widespread narratives online suggesting that he suffered a political defeat during the APC selection exercise. The businessman stressed that such claims were misleading because he had already withdrawn before the primaries commenced.
Despite his withdrawal, Okechukwu maintained that his initial decision to join the race was motivated by concerns about representation in the constituency. According to him, he believed the current federal lawmaker was not adequately meeting the expectations and needs of the people.
Although he did not directly attack the incumbent representative, his comments suggested dissatisfaction with the level of performance and service delivery within the constituency. Political observers say his earlier interest in the seat had generated attention due to his popularity, financial influence and strong social media presence.
Cubana Chief Priest also expressed frustration over what he described as attempts by some individuals to exploit the situation for online propaganda and unnecessary publicity. He criticized the spread of false narratives surrounding his withdrawal from the race and accused some social media users of deliberately pushing misinformation.In his words, “It is therefore laughable that some misguided elements are attempting to use my name for unnecessary trending and online propaganda.”
