Popular Nigerian socialite and businessman, Cubana Chief Priest, has failed in his bid to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the House of Representatives seat representing Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency of Imo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The celebrity barman, whose real name is Pascal Okechukwu, contested under the APC platform but lost out during the Party’s primary election held on Saturday, May 16, as part of preparations for the 2027 polls.
The primaries were organised to determine candidates who will fly the Party’s flag in the general elections.
Under the APC process, aspirants are required to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms before undergoing screening by the Party. Those who scale through the screening stage then proceed to the primaries, where delegates vote to decide the Party’s candidate for the election.
Only winners of the primaries are eligible to contest in the general election.
Cubana Chief Priest is yet to publicly react to his defeat.
Before the primary election, the socialite, who also serves as coordinator of the City Boy Movement in Imo State, had shared a post on Instagram suggesting he was still consulting with political stakeholders and remained optimistic about the race.
“Still consulting. CP never sleeps. This is the final phase of my consultation.
Hoping for the best as we fight to finish,” he wrote.
The socialite is widely known as a supporter of the current administration.
Meanwhile, the APC also released a list of aspirants barred from participating in the House of Representatives primaries across several states.
In a statement issued by the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC disclosed that although some aspirants took part in the screening process, they were ultimately not cleared to contest in the primaries.
The Party, however, did not state the reasons behind their disqualification.
According to the statement, screening panels assessed aspirants using APC-approved guidelines and procedures to determine those qualified to participate in the primaries across various federal constituencies.
Among those affected were three aspirants reportedly backed by Siminalayi Fubara in Rivers State.
The Rivers aspirants who were not cleared include Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara (Rtd), Hon. Anderson Allison Igbiki, Awaji Imombek D. Abirite, and Hon. Boma Goodhead.
Other aspirants disqualified across different states include Hon. Adefisoye Tajudeen, Olusegun Victor Ategbole, Seun Oluwashina Ajongbolo, Rt. Hon. Arowole Ayodeji Samuel, Morufu Tosin Ibrahim, Oseni Oyeniyi, Olaleye John Adedipe, Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello, Hon. Idu Igariwe, and Sanni Salau Ogembe.
