Celebrity businessman Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, on Sunday, denied participating in the All Progressives Congress primary election for the Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency seat in Imo State.
Okechukwu said he voluntarily withdrew from the contest after Governor Hope Uzodimma unveiled the party’s zoning position to him.
Okechukwu’s claims, made in a series of Instagram story posts on Sunday, contradicts an earlier video where he said his only regret was “trusting the elders in the community” and that only 14 people voted for him at the primary.
The celebrity barman was seeking the APC ticket for the Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 general elections, where he lost to the incumbent lawmaker, Canice Nwachukwu.
Okechukwu, who described himself as “a loyal party man and committed progressive,” said his consultations with Uzodimma led him to understand and respect the party’s zoning arrangement, which held that Orlu LGA should complete at least two terms before the seat rotated to another local government area.
“He made the argument that it was not the turn of my Local Government Area to occupy the seat at this time, especially considering that my elder brother, Asiwaju Jerry Alagboso, had previously served three terms in the House,” Okechukwu wrote.
He however said he made it clear to the governor that his aspiration was driven by genuine concern about the performance of the current occupant of the seat.
“My decision and resolve to aspire for the office was borne out of my conviction that the current holder of the office was not living up to the expectations and aspirations of our people,” he said.
The celebrity barman said when the party subsequently adopted its zoning arrangement and directed preferred aspirants to proceed to the field, he completely withdrew from the race.
“In respect for the party and its leadership, I chose not to proceed to the field, and indeed, I never did. Nobody will say they saw me anywhere around the primaries venue. In fact I did not participate. As I headed straight back to Lagos,” he wrote.
Okechukwu said the party’s decision reached him in the early hours of Saturday, before the primary was held, and that he honoured the internal understanding by staying away completely.
He said, “Immediately the party’s decision was communicated to me in the early hours of Saturday before the primaries, I stayed away completely in respect of the leadership and the internal understanding reached.”
The celebrity dismissed the social media commentary around the episode as coordinated mischief, saying it was “laughable that some misguided elements are attempting to use my name for unnecessary trending and online propaganda.”
On claims that he was financially indebted to supporters over the failed bid, he was emphatic.
“I am not indebted to anybody over my aspiration. The aspiration was entirely mine, driven by my personal conviction and desire to serve,” he said, adding that he had “absolutely no regret whatsoever in raising the political stakes and consciousness” in his constituency ahead of the primaries.
His defeat had drawn widespread attention, including a public message of encouragement from Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, who wrote on Instagram: “Bro, sometimes by losing a battle, you find a new way to win the war.”
Closing his statement, Okechukwu reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and pledged to continue mobilising support for the President’s re-election bid in 2027 through his City Boy Movement.
“The APC remains my party, today and always. I remain loyal and committed to the ideals and leadership of our great party,” he wrote.
