In a political realignment that has set social media ablaze, nightlife mogul and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 elections. His message to the Igbo community? "It's better to be inside than outside."

The intersection of pop culture and politics in Nigeria is always a spectacle, but this declaration carries a specific weight. Cubana Chief Priest, a figure with immense influence among the youth and the Igbo demographic, has officially broken ranks with the opposition sentiment prevalent in his region. Appointed as the Imo State Director of the "City Boy Movement," a support group for the President, the socialite is not just dipping a toe in the water; he is diving in headfirst.

His rationale is pragmatic, bordering on the Machiavellian. "Tinubu is 20 steps ahead, can't you guys read the lines?" he posted, urging his followers to abandon emotional voting for strategic alignment. This marks a sharp U-turn from his previous stance where he claimed "only an Igbo president can fix Nigeria." The pivot has sparked a furious debate about loyalty, pragmatism, and the "stomach infrastructure" of Nigerian politics.

The "Inside vs. Outside" Doctrine

Chief Priest’s argument is simple: politics is a game of interests, not sentiments. He argues that the South East has marginalized itself by consistently playing the opposition. By supporting Tinubu—a Yoruba president—he believes the Igbo can negotiate their way back to the center of power. "We can only be Nigerians for us to partake in Nigeria," he wrote, a cryptic but telling phrase that suggests full integration into the ruling party's machinery is the only path to development.

This "Inside vs. Outside" doctrine is a classic political sales pitch. It plays on the fear of exclusion. He challenges his critics: "If an Igbo man supporting Tinubu is a betrayal, what is a Yoruba man supporting Obi?" By drawing this parallel, he attempts to neutralize the ethnic treason charge often leveled against Igbos who align with the APC.

Celebrity Endorsements as Political Currency

The "City Boy Movement" clearly understands the value of influencers. In a country where the youth constitute the majority of the electorate, a figure like Cubana Chief Priest—with millions of followers and a lifestyle that screams "success"—is a potent asset. He validates the President to a demographic that might be otherwise disengaged or hostile.

• The Endorsement: Support for Tinubu 2027.
• The Logic: Strategic alignment over ethnic sentiment.
• The Role: Director, City Boy Movement (Imo State).
• The Backlash: Accusations of inconsistency and opportunism.

However, the backlash has been swift. Critics accuse him of opportunism, prioritizing his own proximity to power over the collective aspirations of his people. The comments section of his posts is a battleground, reflecting the deep polarization that still defines Nigerian politics post-2023.

The Road to 2027

As the 2027 election cycle kicks off with the release of the INEC timetable, endorsements like this are the opening salvos of the campaign. Cubana Chief Priest is likely the first of many celebrities who will be recruited to "sell" the incumbents to a skeptical public. Whether his "Inside" strategy yields dividends for the South East, or merely for himself, remains the billion-naira question. But one thing is clear: the campaign for 2027 has moved from the boardrooms to the banquet halls of Instagram.