Cubana Chief Priest Vows to Oppose Peter Obi in 2027 Presidential Race

Popular Nigerian socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has officially announced that he plans to oppose Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential bid, signaling a significant political shift from his previous support for the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 elections.

The revelation came during an interactive session with his followers on Instagram, where questions about his political alignment and involvement in the City Boy Movement (CBM), a key youth support group for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prompted a candid response. Cubana Chief Priest affirmed his opposition, stating, “Yes oh, hope say no be crime, because I worked for Obi last election even as special adviser to an APC governor.”

His announcement quickly generated mixed reactions on social media. Critics reminded him of past encounters with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), noting that the government he now supports previously investigated him. He responded with confidence, declaring, “If you never go EFCC for Naija, you never make am.”

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The discussion also touched on regional development in the South-East, with commenters suggesting stronger unity could have helped Obi in 2023. Cubana Chief Priest replied sharply, urging supporters to back candidates of their choice and questioning the tangible impact of political arguments on regional progress.

Cubana Chief Priest’s shift coincides with another high-profile appointment: his close associate, Obi Cubana, was named South-East Director of the City Boy Movement, a move announced by Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This development has fueled discussions on the growing influence of South-East businessmen and celebrities in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

Political analysts note that Cubana Chief Priest’s declaration underscores the increasing role of celebrities and social influencers in shaping voter sentiment, particularly among youth and urban populations, and highlights the interplay between entertainment, social media presence, and political mobilization.

As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, Cubana Chief Priest’s public opposition to Peter Obi is likely to intensify political debates and influence early election dynamics, especially among supporters and detractors in key demographic groups.

Cubana Chief Priest Vows to Oppose Peter Obi in 2027 Presidential Race

El-Rufai: I Supported Tinubu Out of Party Principle, Not Friendship

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated that he never had a personal or political relationship with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that their political paths were never destined to align.

El-Rufai, now a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks in a television interview, dismissing claims that he and Tinubu were once friends or political allies.

“I think it’s important to make this clarification. There is an assumption that I was ever Tinubu’s friend. I was not. We never got along with Tinubu. We never had a personal relationship,” he said.

He explained that his support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election was not driven by personal loyalty but by political principle and party discipline within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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“For me, Tinubu was initially just an aspirant of the party. I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the South-West and asked to support the emergence of a South-West Muslim presidential candidate,” he added.

El-Rufai noted that his backing of Tinubu was rooted in an understanding within the APC that after eight years of former President Buhari, power would shift to the South-West, and that his commitment was strictly principle-driven, not personal.

He further stated that once Tinubu emerged as the party’s candidate, he fully worked to ensure APC’s victory, highlighting his belief in supporting the official party candidate, regardless of personal preference.

However, El-Rufai said that fundamental differences in values and governance philosophy eventually created a widening gap between him and Tinubu. “We didn’t fall out; we just couldn’t find areas of agreement,” he explained, underscoring their incompatible approaches to leadership and public service.

Political analysts suggest that El-Rufai’s remarks signal growing ideological divergence within APC and reflect his efforts to distinguish his ADC platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

El-Rufai: I Supported Tinubu Out of Party Principle, Not Friendship

Atiku Rejects Mixed Result Transmission

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected the mixed electronic and manual transmission of election results in Nigeria and called on opposition political parties to unite in advocating for transparent and credible elections.

Speaking at a news conference in Minna, Niger State, following a closed-door meeting with former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku emphasised the urgent need for a fully electronic result transmission system to prevent confusion and disputes during elections.

He warned that the current hybrid model, which combines electronic upload with manual collation as a backup, could create loopholes, misreporting, and undermine public confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The expectations of Nigerians, who are expecting real-time electronic transfer to all levels of the elections, are not being met. What we have now is a mixture of electronic and manual transmission, which could cause more confusion or chaos than a single-tier, fully electronic system. This is why all opposition parties must unite to pursue this issue,” Atiku said.

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The former vice president criticised the Senate’s recent passage of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act, which allows electronic transmission but retains manual collation as a fallback, describing it as a compromise that falls short of complete openness.

On questions about his presence in Minna and the 2027 presidential election, Atiku clarified that he was focused on strengthening the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the ward, local, state, and national levels, and denied that his visit signalled political ambition. He also highlighted that the ADC does not have zoning provisions, unlike the PDP, underscoring differences in party structures.

The remarks follow the Senate’s special plenary on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, where the chamber allowed result transmission to the INEC Result Viewing Portal but retained manual collation as a backup and declined to make electronic transmission mandatory or real-time.

Atiku warned that settling for a hybrid system could undermine the integrity of the electoral process, urging opposition parties and civil society groups to stand together for electoral reforms that ensure transparency, accountability, and credible elections in Nigeria.

Atiku Rejects Mixed Result Transmission