‘I Backed Obi Last Term, I’ll Oppose Him Next’ — Cubana Chief Priest Confirms Political Shift
Celebrity barman Pascal Okechukwu, known widely as Cubana Chief Priest, has publicly declared he will not support Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, signalling a definitive break from the former Anambra State governor whose 2023 campaign he actively backed.
The socialite and nightlife entrepreneur made the announcement during an Instagram exchange with followers on Tuesday, confirming he now plans to work against Obi’s widely anticipated bid.
A user posed a direct question: “So in simple terms, You are working against Obi in the upcoming presidential election. lol.”
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Cubana Chief Priest responded unequivocally. “yes oh hope say no be crime cuz I worked for Obi last election even as special adviser to an APC governor,” he wrote.
The comment immediately drew a wave of reactions, with followers scrutinising his shift in political allegiance. When one user raised his past encounter with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Chief Priest dismissed the remark with characteristic bravado. “If you never go to the EFCC for Naija, you never make it,” he replied.
The conversation later turned to the South-East and the Biafra question. A user had invoked the separatist cause, but Chief Priest redirected the critique toward regional development. “Go and support who you want to support. As you like Biafra, how many developments have you done for the South East?” he wrote.
His comments mark a rare public dissociation from Obi by a high-profile figure from the South-East who openly worked for his 2023 campaign. During that election cycle, Cubana Chief Priest was visible in his support for the Labour Party candidate, despite holding the title of Special Adviser on Tourism and Entertainment to Chief Hope Uzodimma, the Imo State governor elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
That peculiar positioning—serving an APC governor while campaigning for Obi—drew attention at the time. His latest remarks suggest a recalibration ahead of 2027, though he has not named which candidate or party he now intends to support.
Peter Obi has not formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidency. However, political realignments have already begun taking shape, with figures from the 2023 Labour Party campaign dispersing into various camps. Obi remains the most recognisable opposition figure from the last election, having placed third behind Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar according to official results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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Cubana Chief Priest’s EFCC reference stems from his April 2024 arraignment by the anti-graft agency on three counts bordering on alleged abuse of naira notes during a social event. He was granted bail in the sum of ₦10 million and pleaded not guilty. The case is still before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
His Tuesday remarks have reignited discussions about the fluidity of political alliances in Nigeria’s South-East, a region where voter sentiment does not always align with elite endorsement patterns. While Obi secured commanding victories in Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo, and Ebonyi in 2023, some business and entertainment figures from the region have maintained ties with the ruling APC.
No political camp has issued an official response to the socialite’s declaration. As of press time, Peter Obi’s media team had not commented on the statement.