In this second edition of our series on celebrities canvassing support for the three major presidential candidates in the 2023 general election, SHADE WESLEY-METIBOGUN unveils a long list (too long to be published in this edition) of those who want the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to be elected as the next President of Nigeria:
Joke Silva
Veteran actress Joke Silva has always supported the All Progressives Congress at the federal and state levels. After the party emerged victorious in the 2019 general election, she sent a congratulatory note to President Mohammadu Buhari, the National Leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the then National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Besides, both Tinubu and the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, are her benefactors. It is no surprise that she has to pledge her loyalty and support to the APC, which the two represent.
Joke is the Chairman of the Creative and Entertainment Industry Committee of the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign Council. Her appointment has been greeted with mixed reactions by many who see the veteran actress as a role model.
Eniola Badmus
Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus is arguably an ardent supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife Remi. She openly identifies and celebrates them at every given opportunity, not minding the attendant backlash and criticism that her endorsement of the APC presidential candidate may attract.
Ironically, Eniola’s best friend and colleague, Funke Akindele, is in the opposition camp as the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Zack Orji
Nollywood actor, Zack Orji, is a huge promoter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He made it clear that his support for the presidential flagbearer of APC is both experiential and personal. To him, Tinubu stands for equity, justice, fair play and national cohesion. Having lived in Lagos for over 40 years of his life, he considers Tinubu a chief crusader for democratic consolidation of the country.
The actor believes that Tinubu ran an inclusive government when he was Governor of Lagos State. He included people from different ethnic extraction into his executive council to run the affairs of the state.
Orij is convinced that BAT would turn the economy of the country around if given a chance to become President. The movie practitioner holds an important position in Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council. He is the Director of the Southeast Zone under the Performing Arts Directorate. Ironically, his wife is an avowed supporter of Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Foluke Daramola
Actress Foluke Daramola’s allegiance to Bola Ahmed Tinubu is more on a personal level. Their relationship dates back to her first marriage in 2005 to Tunde Sobowale, son of Professor Sobowale, a former Commissioner for Education in Lagos State during the period Tinubu was governor.
Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, were among dignitaries that graced Foluke’s first marriage reception. Tinubu played the role of a father at her wedding as she had lost her biological father when she was a toddler. Oluremi was the mother of the day.
Foluke is on Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council and is his media assistant in Lagos State. Also, some of her relatives are on the payroll of Tinubu and so she feels obliged to support his presidential ambition. Ironically, her second husband, Kayode Salako’s allegiance is to the Labour Party where he is the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the party.
Benedict Johnson
Film producer cum actor, Benedict Johnson publicly declared his love and endorsement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a viral video where he spoke his native Igbo language.
Johnson has since been telling whoever cares to listen that his choice candidate is the best man for the job. He revealed that the Igbos would suffer collectively for another eight years if they fail to vote for Tinubu. His utterance earned him huge criticism by other practitioners who insist he cannot be their mouthpiece. He was rewarded by Tinubu for his show of support with a position in his Presidential Campaign Council list under the Performing Arts Directorate.
Olawale Olofooro
Singer Olawale Olofooro, otherwise known as Brymo, declared his support for Bola Tinubu on Twitter a few months ago. He is the one that gave Tinubu the appellation, ‘City Boy’. The singer says he believes the APC flagbearer will lead the country to the Promised Land. He advised naysayers to stop judging the presidential candidate because of his age.
Rose Odika
Nollywood practitioner, Rose Odika is unstable when it comes to who to endorse for the presidency of Nigeria. First, she openly endorsed Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State before the All Progressive Congress presidential primaries, but when he got trounced at the polls, she quickly switched allegiance to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Rose Odika’s reason for endorsing Tinubu is the fact that many actors and actresses benefitted from the politician when he was the Governor of Lagos State. She believes that Tinubu will be able to replicate his achievements in Lagos at the federal. The light-complexioned actress is one of the members of the Creative and Entertainment Industry Committee of the Tinubu/Shettima Women’s Campaign Team for the 2023 general election.
Freedom Atsepoyi
Social media influencer, Freedom Atsepoyi, also known as Mr Jollof, is one of the strongest supporters of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His Instagram page became a mini campaign ground a few months ago where he spoke well of his choice candidate. When an old video of him criticising Tinubu in 2020 for President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure was dug up, he revealed that he was ignorant at the time it was shot, but now enlightened. Unfortunately, he was disappointed that he wasn’t rewarded with a position in Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council. This made him delete all campaign materials of Tinubu from his Instagram post. He has however not denounced his allegiance to the APC flagbearer.
Mercy Johnson Okojie
Talented movie act, Mercy Johnson Okojie’s name made it to Aisha Buhari’s list for the Tinubu/Shettima Women Campaign Committee, but she has remained silent about it, unlike others who hailed their inclusion. Her husband, Odianosen Okojie, is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress. In May 2022, he won the ticket for the Federal House of Representatives, Esan North-East/ Esan South-east Federal Constituency in Edo State.
Sola Salako-Ajulo
Human rights activist and founder of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, Sola Salako-Ajulo, has been open with her campaign for a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency. Following the video made by Tinubu to announce that he was hale and hearty and still in the presidential race, the activist took to Instagram to show her support for the presidential candidate, stating that Tinubu would not die anytime soon.
Leo Da-Silva
Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Babarinde Akinola Dasilva, otherwise known as Leo Da-Silva is one of the reality stars openly showing support for the APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Leo posted on his social media page a picture of his invite to the Tinubu Youth Summit which was held in commemoration of the politician’s 70th birthday in March. The reality star was also one of the panelists at the event. The invite came as a surprise to many because Leo was part of the youths who protested against Police brutality and bad governance in 2021. He was dragged for his action.
Gentle Jack
Nollywood actor, Gentle Jack, shot a video in Igbo language to canvass support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was also among the delegates who went on a courtesy visit to the presidential candidate on behalf of the Ambassador of Voice of Change organisation. His action was criticised and he had to make another video where he appealed to Nigerians to stop abusing him because he is only exercising his constitutional right by supporting a candidate of his choice.
Comfort Obamuyiwa
Comfort Obamuyiwa, Lagos socialite and the estranged wife of former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumsou, is a big supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The businesswoman is a member of Sanwo-olu Ambassadors, a group working towards a better state and nation in general. She joined other members of the group last week to hold an Interdenominational prayer for the APC presidential candidate. She was also among the women who staged a rally in support of Tinubu.
Tai Elemonsho Okesanjo
Lagos socialite and entrepreneur, Tai Okesanjo does not mince words when it comes to endorsing any political candidate. She is one of the most assertive entrepreneurs backing some candidates of the All Progressives Congress both at the federal and state levels. Her social media page is a mini campaign ground for her favourite politicians. She was part of the train that staged a 2 million-women solidarity walk for Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Ibrahim Shettima. She was also one of those who held an interdenominational prayer for the duo of Tinubu and Babajide Sanwo-olu last week.
Desmond Elliot
Nollywood actor cum movie producer, Desmond Elliot, is not only a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, but he is also a staunch supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he isn’t ashamed to call his godfather.
Elliot believes that Tinubu has the capacity to perform in 2023. As a sign of his endorsement, the actor has several t-shirts and face caps with customised logos of Tinubu inscribed on them. He adorns those special t-shirts and caps anytime he is canvassing for support for the presidential candidate of his party. His social media is one of the campaign grounds for Tinubu ahead of the 2023 election.
Emma Ehumadu
Nollywood actor cum movie producer, Emma Ehumadu, also known as Emma Labista, is a proud supporter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The actor publicly endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress on his social media page.
He was also part of the crew who paid a courtesy visit to the politician a few months ago. He posted a video focused on his preferred presidential candidate to persuade his fans to support his ambition.
According to him, Tinubu understands the complicated nature of Nigeria and can move the nation forward. He claims Tinubu can replicate the success recorded during his days as the governor of Lagos State, if he is given the chance to rule the country. The actor, who has been hugely criticised for the video, has made it clear that his critics cannot deter him from achieving his goal.
Israel Ogundipe
The General Overseer of Genesis Global Church, Prophet Israel Oladele, otherwise known as Genesis, has also given his nod to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the nation in 2023. The preacher made it known in one of his church services that he is supporting Tinubu because he is a Yoruba man.
The cleric who is unapologetic about his decision stated that if there is another Yoruba man contesting for the post, he would gladly support the person too. According to him, “I am not a bastard, I cannot be a Yoruba man and go and vote for Igbo. I am not afraid”, he had told his congregation while endorsing Tinubu.
Morayo Afolabi-Brown
Morayo Afolabi-Brown, host of popular programme, Your View, is a member of the APC Women Presidential Campaign Media team. She made the announcement on her social media pages after she received an invitation to join the group. The media personality noted that the decision to serve in the APC-led group is very personal to her as she is ready to bring her experience in strategy to bear as she embarks on the journey.
Gbenga Adeyinka
Standup comedian and Master of Ceremony, Gbenga Adeyinka is one of the ardent followers and lovers of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His love for the Jagaban of Borgu dates back to when the latter was Governor of Lagos State. The humour merchant grew to become the official anchor of any event hosted by Tinubu’s family. It is rare for the Tinubus to host an event and Adeyinka wouldn’t be there. The comedian has been accused of receiving money in exchange for supporting Tinubu. He has had to clarify the misconception on several occasions and even threatened to report naysayers’ Instagram pages for harassment because of the rain of abuses on him and his family.
Femi Adebayo
Like his father, Femi Adebayo is one of the actors canvassing support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was also involved in the viral endorsement video of Tinubu. Many were taken by surprise when they saw the talented actor in the video because he had always fraternised with members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party. He was a Special Assistant on Arts, Culture and Tourism to the former PDP governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatal Ahmed in 2016.
When Femi signified interest to vie for a seat at the House of Representatives for Asa/llorin West Constituency in Kwara State, he didn’t indicate the platform he would be running under. But a close friend of the actor revealed that his interest was with the PDP. That seems to have changed now as Tinubu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, is now his preferred presidential candidate.
Eniola Ajao
The young Nollywood actress made a cameo in the viral video where some Nollywood actors endorsed Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The actress believes Tinubu’s wealth of experience will greatly impact the economy of Nigeria and move the country forward. She was faulted for joining her colleagues in endorsing the APC presidential candidate. She was accused of having a tribalistic strategy that focuses on provoking people from the Southeast.
Shola Abina
Shola Abina, one of the daughters of veteran actor Jide Kosoko, is following in her father’s footsteps in many ways. She is one of the Nollywood practitioners who have openly endorsed Tinubu’s political ambition. She is also a member of the creative and entertainment industry committee of the Tinubu/Shettima women’s campaign team for the 2023 general election.
Faithia Balogun
Just like her estranged husband, Saheed Balogun, Faithia Williams is also rooting for a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency. One of the reasons Williams is supporting Tinubu is the fact that she claims he has the potential to transform the country. After publicly making her declaration for BAT, she was appointed on Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council under the Performing Arts Directorate.
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