Celebrity businessman and socialite Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has issued a direct and explosive political warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that the entire South-East region will withhold its votes in the 2027 presidential election if the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is not released unconditionally before the polls.
The statement was made on Wednesday night during a high-profile birthday celebration for Enugu billionaire Prince Arthur Eze at the Amadeo Event Centre, Achi Street, Independence Layout, Enugu. The star-studded event was attended by governors, senators, traditional rulers, and top entertainers from across the South-East and beyond.
Speaking to a charged crowd of over 3,000 guests, Cubana Chief Priest, dressed in his signature opulent style, took the microphone and declared:
“Mr. President, with all due respect, we love you, we supported you, but this one thing you must do for us. Release Nnamdi Kanu now! If by 2027 Nnamdi Kanu is still inside that detention, South-East will not give you one single vote. We will sit at home and watch. No release, no vote. It is not a threat; it is a promise from the streets!”
The hall erupted in thunderous applause and chants of “Free Nnamdi Kanu!” and “No Kanu, No Vote!” as guests raised their phones to record the moment. The video clip has since gone mega-viral, amassing over 8 million views in less than 18 hours and trending at number one nationwide on X (Twitter) under the hashtags #FreeNnamdiKanuOrNoVote and #CubanaWarnsTinubu.
Cubana Chief Priest, who commands over 6.5 million followers on Instagram and is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices among Nigerian youth, doubled down in a follow-up Instagram post:
“I said what I said. We are not fighting; we are only asking for justice. Nnamdi Kanu is our brother. The case has been discharged by the Court of Appeal. Keeping him is now political, not legal. Mr. President, you have the power. Use it and secure our votes forever. South-East is peaceful when our son is free.”
The socialite’s outburst comes amid growing frustration in Igboland over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu despite the October 2024 Court of Appeal ruling that quashed all charges against him and ordered his release. The Federal Government’s subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court and continued incarceration of the IPOB leader have fueled anger and revived calls for political consequences.
Prominent South-East leaders and entertainers present at the event openly endorsed Cubana Chief Priest’s position:
Flavour (Highlife superstar): “Cubana has spoken the mind of millions. Free MNK now!”
Phyno: “Real talk. No justice, no peace at the polls.”
Governor Peter Mbah (Enugu State): While declining to comment officially, sources say the governor privately applauded the courage.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe: “The message is clear: the people have spoken.”
The Cubana Group founder, who was appointed Special Adviser on Tourism and Entertainment Creative Economy by the Imo State Government in 2024, further warned that the continued detention is fueling youth restiveness and giving oxygen to unknown gunmen activities in the region.
“Every day Nnamdi Kanu spends in DSS custody, insecurity grows. Release him and watch the South-East breathe again. This is not about IPOB; this is about fairness, rule of law, and political wisdom,” he concluded.
The Presidency is yet to respond officially to the statement, but sources within the State House indicate that the video has been escalated to the highest levels for urgent review.
As 2027 draws closer, Cubana Chief Priest’s declaration is being seen as the strongest and most public linkage yet between Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom and the voting behavior of the South-East geopolitical zone.
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