Popular Nigerian socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu does not fully trust him due to his Igbo ethnicity and past support for Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.

The celebrity barman made the revelation during a livestream with popular streamer Habeeb “Peller” Hamzat on Tuesday night, shortly after failing to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency in Imo State.

“Tinubu doesn’t really trust me because I’m an Igbo man and I worked for Peter Obi before,” Cubana Chief Priest said. “He looks at me with one eye because of that.”

He explained that he had previously supported Obi but switched allegiance, believing the Labour Party candidate was not positioned to win. Despite his close ties to the Tinubu family, including public association with the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, Cubana Chief Priest polled only 14 votes in the APC primary against the incumbent lawmaker, Canice Moore Nwachukwu.

The socialite, who serves as Imo State Coordinator of the City Boys Movement, downplayed the loss, insisting he had withdrawn from the race due to zoning arrangements after consultations with party leaders. He also revealed receiving special treatment from APC stakeholders, including a promise of a brand new car.

Cubana Chief Priest has urged young Nigerians to support President Tinubu and actively participate in politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. His comments have sparked widespread reactions online, with many debating issues of trust, ethnicity, and loyalty within the APC.

resents Economic Rescue and Security Blueprint

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday appeared before the Presidential Screening Panel of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of the party’s nomination process for the 2027 election.

The screening exercise, held in Abuja, saw Atiku present his credentials along with a comprehensive blueprint focused on economic revival and enhanced national security. He was accompanied by key allies including former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.

A statement issued after the session by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the exercise as smooth and productive. Atiku reportedly assured the panel of his commitment to tackling insecurity, unemployment, and economic hardship if given the party’s ticket.

The development comes on the same day the rival Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) cleared Peter Obi as its sole presidential aspirant, highlighting the ongoing realignment within Nigeria’s opposition ahead of 2027.

Atiku, who recently joined the ADC, is seen as one of the party’s frontrunners for the presidential ticket. The ADC is expected to hold its primaries in the coming days, with party leaders urging unity to mount a strong challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.

Reactions have begun trailing in from across the political spectrum as major opposition figures position themselves for the next general election.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially cleared former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as its sole aspirant for the 2027 presidential race, effectively positioning him as the party’s consensus candidate.

The National Screening Committee of the NDC announced the clearance after a rigorous exercise on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, confirming that Obi was the only aspirant who obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

A statement from the party described Obi as “eminently qualified,” noting that he fully complied with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the NDC’s own guidelines.

Obi, who joined the NDC earlier alongside former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, has been making waves in opposition politics since his strong showing in the 2023 election. The development comes as the party zones its presidential ticket to the South for a single four-year term.

Political observers view this move as a significant realignment in the opposition ahead of 2027, with the NDC emerging as a key platform challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

As reactions continue to pour in, Obi is expected to formally accept the party’s nomination in the coming days, setting the stage for what could be one of Nigeria’s most competitive presidential contests in recent history.