APC Primary: Cubana Chief Priest Suffers Heavy Defeat as Omeogo Secures 2,846 Votes in Imo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency has continued to spark widespread political conversations within Imo State and across Nigeria following an outcome many analysts described as a powerful statement on the influence of political structure, party loyalty, and grassroots mobilisation over celebrity status.
At the centre of the contest was popular nightlife entrepreneur and socialite, Paschal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest or Money Na Water, whose entrance into the race attracted massive public attention due to his financial strength, social media visibility, and celebrity influence.
Supporters had projected him as a fresh political force capable of disrupting the existing political order within the APC in the federal constituency.
However, results obtained by PulseNets showed that the primary election ended in a sweeping victory for incumbent lawmaker, Canice Moore Chigozie Nwachukwu, popularly known as Omeogo, who remains deeply rooted within the APC political structure across the constituency.
PulseNets learnt that Omeogo secured a commanding 2,846 delegate votes, while Cubana Chief Priest polled only 14 votes, in a result party insiders reportedly described as a strong indication that established political structure still outweighs celebrity appeal in Nigeria’s internal party politics.
Cubana Chief Priest’s participation in the contest had generated significant momentum ahead of the primaries, particularly among youths and supporters who believed his popularity and financial capacity could reshape political engagement in the constituency.
His campaign was largely driven by promises centred on personal investment in development projects, youth empowerment initiatives, and economic stimulation across Orlu, Orsu, and Oru East federal constituency.
PulseNets reported that his interactions with delegates during the build-up to the primaries also attracted widespread public reactions, especially with the high-profile hospitality and mobilisation strategies associated with his campaign activities.
Despite the visibility surrounding his ambition, political observers noted that the outcome was ultimately determined by long-standing political alliances, entrenched loyalty blocs, and deeply established grassroots networks that continue to dominate APC internal processes in Imo State.
Omeogo, regarded by many stakeholders as a seasoned political figure within the constituency, is widely seen as a product of sustained grassroots engagement and deep party loyalty cultivated over several years.
He is also believed to maintain a long-standing political relationship with Hope Uzodimma, with sources who spoke to PulseNets linking their alliance to earlier political movements and power structures within the state.
Analysts further noted that Omeogo’s political strength remains heavily tied to ward-level mobilisation systems, community loyalty networks, and strategic relationships within the APC hierarchy.
Supporters also credit him with playing notable roles in previous political mobilisation efforts that contributed to consolidating APC dominance in Imo State.
The Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency remains one of the most politically strategic constituencies in Imo State, largely because it is closely connected to the state’s political power structure and the home region of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Within that political environment, loyalty, structure, and internal party alignment are widely considered critical determinants of electoral success.
Political analysts told PulseNets that Omeogo’s victory is now being interpreted as a reinforcement of tested loyalty, organisational strength, and political continuity within the APC.
Some stakeholders also argued that Cubana Chief Priest’s political ambition may have gained stronger traction if it had commenced from a lower legislative platform such as the Imo State House of Assembly, allowing gradual integration into the party’s grassroots and structural networks.
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Ultimately, the APC primary election has been widely viewed as another example of how political structure continues to overpower celebrity influence in Nigerian politics, where popularity, visibility, and financial capacity often struggle against deeply entrenched grassroots coordination and loyalty systems.
The final outcome of 2,846 votes to 14 sealed a decisive victory for Omeogo and further reaffirmed the enduring dominance of political structure over celebrity ambition in intra-party political contests in Nigeria.
