Celebrity businessman and socialite, Cubana Chief Priest, has denied participating in the All Progressives Congress primary election for the Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency seat in Imo State, insisting that he withdrew from the race before the exercise was held.
The nightlife entrepreneur, whose real name is Pascal Okechukwu, said he stepped down from the contest after discussions with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, over the party’s zoning arrangement.
Okechukwu made the clarification in a series of posts shared on his Instagram story on Sunday.
His statement comes amid widespread reports that he lost the APC primary election for the federal constituency seat to the incumbent lawmaker, Canice Nwachukwu.
The socialite explained that Governor Uzodimma had informed him that the party’s zoning formula favoured Orlu Local Government Area retaining the seat for at least two terms before it could rotate to another council area.
According to him, the governor also reminded him that his elder brother, Asiwaju Jerry Alagboso, had previously represented the constituency for three terms in the House of Representatives.
“He made the argument that it was not the turn of my Local Government Area to occupy the seat at this time,” Okechukwu stated.
Despite accepting the zoning arrangement, he maintained that his political ambition was motivated by concerns over the performance of the current representative of the constituency.
“My aspiration was driven by my conviction that the current occupant of the office was not meeting the expectations of our people,” he said.
Okechukwu further insisted that once the party leadership communicated its final decision to him before the primaries, he completely withdrew from the process and stayed away from the venue.
“In respect for the party and its leadership, I chose not to proceed to the field. In fact, I did not participate in the primaries at all,” he added.
He also dismissed social media reactions suggesting he was defeated at the poll, describing such reports as attempts to create unnecessary controversy online.
The businessman denied claims that he owed supporters or political associates money over the failed aspiration, insisting that his ambition was entirely personal and self-driven.
He added that he had no regrets over raising political awareness in his constituency through his campaign activities.
Okechukwu reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and pledged continued support for the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu through his City Boy Movement ahead of the 2027 elections.
