Portable says he was paid to join a Tinubu rally and declares full support for the President, reviving debate over celebrity political endorsements
Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has declared his full support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after claiming that he was paid to participate in a rally backing the President.
The controversial singer made the disclosure while speaking about his finances and his plans to give more money to people on the streets.
Portable said his financial circumstances had previously prevented him from giving as generously as he wanted, but claimed that receiving payment for the rally had changed his situation.
“I was broke before, that’s why I haven’t been spraying money for the street, but now, I want to do rally for Tinubu, they’ve paid me, I’ve collected money and now I’ll show love to the street,” he said.
“I have a lot of money now, I’ve been paid and I’m fully supporting Tinubu.”
His remarks have attracted attention because he openly linked his political support to the payment he said he received for the rally.
Portable’s latest position also echoes comments he made in September 2025, when he said he would support whichever presidential candidate paid him first ahead of the 2027 election.
At the time, he named the APC, PDP and other potential contenders, saying his support would depend on who provided financial assistance.
The singer has since become increasingly vocal about President Tinubu and his possible re-election bid.
In March 2026, Portable claimed that he had been contacted to campaign for Tinubu and said he had been given APC campaign clothing.
There was no official confirmation from the APC of the arrangement at the time.
He also generated controversy in the same period after urging Yoruba people to support Tinubu and making threats involving traditional spiritual references. His comments attracted criticism and renewed debate over the role of entertainers in political campaigns.
Portable’s latest declaration comes amid growing political mobilisation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Support groups backing Tinubu have been organising rallies and grassroots mobilisation programmes across the country.
In the North Central, organisers recently announced a grand rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State, as part of efforts to mobilise support for Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Other entertainment figures have also recently expressed support for the President.
Fuji musician Adewale Ayuba endorsed Tinubu’s bid for a second term earlier in October, citing what he described as infrastructure development and other changes under the administration.
Tinubu, meanwhile, has continued to promote his administration’s economic reforms as he seeks another term in office.
In his October 1 Independence Day address, the President said Nigeria had moved beyond the emergency phase of his reforms and entered what he described as an “age of prosperity”.
He highlighted economic growth, falling inflation and improved foreign reserves among the developments his administration says have followed the reforms.
Portable’s comments have nevertheless shifted the conversation back to the relationship between money, celebrity endorsements and political campaigns.
While entertainers frequently use their public platforms to express political preferences, the singer’s admission is notable because he directly connected his participation in a political rally with financial compensation.
His statement does not independently establish the amount he was paid or identify the organisation that allegedly made the payment.
For now, Portable says the payment has strengthened his ability to support people around him and has reinforced his decision to back Tinubu.
The singer’s latest position also adds another chapter to his increasingly public involvement in Nigerian politics, where he has previously acknowledged that financial considerations influence the political support he is willing to give.
