Celebrity businessman confirms break from former ally, aligns with pro-Tinubu camp amid backlash and EFCC jibes.

Celebrity socialite and entrepreneur Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has announced that he will campaign against Labour Party’s Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election — a dramatic departure from the support he openly gave the former Anambra governor in 2023.

The outspoken businessman made the declaration on Instagram during a heated exchange with followers who questioned his recent alignment with the pro-Tinubu “City Boy Movement” and his evolving political loyalties.

Responding to a direct question about whether he intended to work against Obi in the next election cycle, Cubana Chief Priest left no room for doubt.

“Yes ooo hope say no be crime cuz I worked for Obi last election even as special adviser to an APC governor,” he wrote, confirming both his past involvement and his present shift.

Backlash and EFCC Controversy

His remarks immediately triggered criticism online, with detractors pointing to his previous encounters with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Some commenters suggested that his newfound alignment with the current administration could be a strategic move aimed at shielding himself from future scrutiny — an assertion he dismissed with characteristic swagger.

“If you never go EFCC for Naija you never make am,” he retorted, implying that being investigated by the anti-graft agency is almost a rite of passage for prominent figures in Nigeria.

The comment further inflamed debate, drawing mixed reactions from supporters and critics alike.

Regional Politics and 2023 Fallout

Beyond personal politics, the conversation widened to the broader issue of South-East unity during the 2023 presidential race. Some followers argued that Peter Obi’s performance might have been stronger with more consolidated backing from influential figures within the region.

Cubana Chief Priest, however, rejected calls for regional pressure politics. In a pointed response, he challenged critics to freely support candidates of their choice while questioning what tangible benefits past unity sentiments had delivered to the South-East.

“What tangible development has such sentiments brought to the South-East?” he asked, underscoring his stance on personal political freedom over collective expectations.

His declaration sets the stage for intensified political conversations ahead of 2027, as public figures increasingly signal their alignments years before the next presidential contest.