In recent years, it has become increasingly common for celebrities and entertainers to enter the political arena, using their star power and fanbase to gain votes and promote their political agenda.
While some like Nollywood actors Rotimi Makinde, Bob Manuel and Iyanya, among others, have been successful in their political careers, others have failed to make a significant impact. With upcoming general elections, we are expected to see some familiar faces from the entertainment industry competing for political office.
Here, we look at seven entertainers contesting in 2023 elections.
Funke Akindele: Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele is the running mate of the Lagos State Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olajide ‘Jandor’ Adediran.
Funke ‘Jenifa’ Akindele’s guber nomination means that a career spanning over 25 years will be put on hold for what she considers “a much bigger facet of service to humanity”.
“My decision is not just to accept this huge responsibility but to also work tirelessly and complement Jandor’s burning desire to see our dear Lagos live up to its full potential”, she revealed in a video posted on her verified Instagram page.
Netng reached out to Akindele for comments about her aspiration, but she’s yet to respond.
Banky W: Actor and singer, Bankole Wellington, won the PDP primary ticket for the Eti-Osa, Lagos constituency in the Federal House of Representatives ahead of the 2023 general elections.
After a string of controversies where the opposition, Sam Aiboni, was declared as the winner, another primary was conducted two weeks later and Banky W won again, polling 24 votes out of 29 votes cast by the delegates.
Before winning the PDP ticket in May, he had contested for the position in 2019 under the platform of the defunct Modern Democratic Party, but lost in the general elections.
Banky W is yet to respond to Netng’s request for comments about his aspiration.
Femi Branch: Femi Branch is the running mate to Ogun State gubernatorial candidate, Tofunmi Ogunronbi of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), ahead of the 2023 general election.
The thespian has time and time again reminded of his candidacy on his official social media pages. He joins his colleague, Tonto Dikeh and Funke Akindele, to emerge as a running mate to a governorship candidate.
“Our aim is to make Ogun state the best State in Nigeria and indeed better than some West African countries”, Branch said in an official statement published on his Instagram page.
Desmond Elliot: Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for a third term in May 2022.
His nomination by APC for the third term, as well as the second, came unopposed.
Carolyna Hutchings: Carolyna Hutchings, formerly Carolina Danjuma, is running alongside Mr Iboro Otu as the deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress in Akwa Ibom State.
In the ex-reality TV star’s words: “to serve and to honour in loyalty and in truth to Akwa Ibom and Nigeria. So help me God.”
Tonto Dikeh: Popular Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh is the running mate of the Rivers State gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Tonte Ibraye.
This was announced in June 2022, in a statement posted by Tonte Ibraye on his verified Facebook page.
“We are pleased to welcome her (Tonto Dikeh) to the #RiversRescueMission2023 as we strive to improve the standard of living for everyone in our dear Rivers State”, the statement read.
Taking to social media to announce the news herself, Dikeh revealed that even though Nollywood created a path for her, she wasn’t going to hone her trade there forever.
“I’ve done like two films in 10 years, so you can’t tell me I’m still in the industry.”
“It is something that I respect, but it’s not something that has been in my life for a while now. So even after the election, it is not something I plan on bringing back”, said the mother of one.
Hilda Dokubo: Veteran actress Hilda Dokubo is one of the entertainers contesting in 2023 elections. She is in the running for the 2023 House of Representatives for Asaiga/Akulga Federal Constituency under the Labour Party (LP).
A staunch supporter of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the same party, Dokubo believes she represents an ideology “that emboldens and gives us the audacity to hope for a new Nigeria.” “We can all change that by our PVC and those we vote into office in 2023”, she said.