2027: Chief Priest Breaks Silence On Tinubu Support After APC Primaries Outcome

According to Ireporter Online, Chief Priest clarified in a statement shared on his Instagram page on Sunday that he did not participate in the primary election due to the party’s zoning arrangement.

His explanation comes after a viral video in which he appeared to suggest that he had contested and received only 14 votes, lamenting that his greatest mistake was trusting community elders.

In his latest statement, Chief Priest said he withdrew from the race after consultations with the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, who explained that the party had resolved to allow the incumbent lawmaker to seek another term in line with its zoning formula.

He noted that the governor argued it was not yet the turn of his local government area to occupy the seat, especially considering that a former lawmaker from his constituency had already served three terms in the House of Representatives.

Chief Priest said he accepted the decision of the party leadership and chose not to proceed with the primary election. He stressed that he was absent from the venue and returned to Lagos immediately after the decision was communicated to him in the early hours of Saturday.

The celebrity businessman described reports suggesting he lost the primary as misleading and accused some individuals of exploiting his name to generate unnecessary online attention and misinformation.

He also emphasized that his political ambition was self-funded and that he owed no one for his attempt to secure the APC ticket.

Despite stepping aside, Chief Priest said he has no regrets about his aspiration, stating that his participation helped increase political awareness and engagement across the constituency.

He reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to the APC and declared his total commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Chief Priest further urged members of his City Boy Movement and supporters to remain calm and loyal to the party, assuring them that more grassroots initiatives and mobilization efforts in support of the Renewed Hope agenda would be unveiled in the coming days.

He concluded by reiterating that the APC remains his political home and that his support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition remains firm and unapologetic.