By It is not a new wave for Nigerian celebrities to receive political appointments, especially from their state governments.
Over the years, many celebrities in the country have been invited by their state governments to receive political nominations while some have knowingly delved into politics with the hope to serve the people.
Blackbox Nigeria brings you 20 Nollywood actors who have either run for offices or have been appointed.
1. Femi Adebayo
In February 2016, popular Yoruba Nollywood actor, Femi Adebayo was made the Special Adviser to the then Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed on Arts, Culture and Tourism.
Although the actor was appointed in 2016, he is currently contesting for the post of a senator in the upcoming elections. The actor who hails from Kwara made his interest known in representing Asa/Ilorin West at the Nigerian National Assembly delegation from his state.
2. Ini Edo
Ini Edo is a professional actress, movie producer, and director. She is one of the actresses that have held political positions in the past.
In 2016, the beautiful actress was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Culture and Tourism.
Her appointment was renewed in 2020 when Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the current governor of the State, was re-elected into office.
3. Banky W
Nigerian singer, rapper, actor, entrepreneur and politician, Olubankole Wellington aka Banky W, on November 11, 2018, declared his intention to run for the Lagos’ Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, on the platform of Modern Democratic Party (MDP), formed in 2017.
On February 23, 2019, Bankole Wellington lost the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency elections to Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressive Congress (APC). On April 1, 2022, he declared his intention to serve as a federal legislator representing Eti- Osa Local government under People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming 2023 elections.
4. Zubby Michael
Zubby Michael is a talented Nigerian actor and media personality who has impressed lots of entertainment lovers with his unique talents and creativity.
In 2019, he was appointed by the immediate past Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano as his Special Adviser on Media.
5. Desmond Elliot
Desmond Oluwashola Elliot is a famous Nigerian movie star, who has featured in many Nollywood blockbuster movies, television shows and soap operas.
In 2015, He was elected as a lawmaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Surulere Constituency, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
6. Kate Henshaw
On July 19, 2014, Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw officially unveiled her campaign website as she was aspiring to represent Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal constituency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Henshaw, however, lost the primary election to Rt. Hon Essien Ayi but was appointed as Special Advicer Liaison, Lagos by the Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade in December 2015. Recently, she recounted how she spent N35 million to chase her ambition to become a member of the House of Representatives and her regrets.
7. Bob Manuel
Bob-Manuel Udokwu is a veteran Nollywood actor who contested for the position of house of assembly for the Idemili North Local Government Area for Anambra state in 2015.
He was appointed into the cabinet of Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, as the Senior Special Assistant on Movie/Entertainment.
8. Richard Mofe Damijo
Nollywood veteran actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo was appointed as the Special Adviser of Culture and Tourism to the then Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2008, later on became the commissioner for Culture and Tourism of Delta State, Nigeria in 2009. His tenure ended in 2015.
9. Hilda Dokubo
Ace Actress, Hilda Dokubo was one of the first Nigerian celebrities to get into the political game. She was appointed Special Adviser on Youth Affairs to the former Rivers state governor, Peter Odili in the early 2000s.
10. Mercy Johnson
On March 15, 2017, Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie was appointed a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on Entertainment, Arts and Culture.
11. Kanayo O. Kanayo
Anayo Modestus Onyekwere popularly known as Kanayo O. Kanayo is a Nigerian actor and lawyer. He joined the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and had his eyes on the seat of House of Representatives, member for Ahiazu/Ezinihite Mbaise Federal Constituency in 2011. However, he lost in the primary election.
12. Nkiru Sylvanus
Nkiru Sylvanus was one of the first set of celebrities to venture into politics. In 2011, she was appointed the Special Adviser on Lagos Affairs to the Imo State Government. She was later made Special Adviser on Public Relations to the same state Government.
13. Funke Adesiyan
Funke Adesiyan is a Nollywood actress who contested for the Ibadan South-East constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly. The actress won the Oyo State House of Assembly primary election on the platform of the PDP in 2014.
At the time, she was the second entertainer to win a primary election after Desmond Elliot who set the pace by winning the APC primary election for the Lagos State House of Assembly. While Desmond won his election, Funke lost to her APC opponent by a large margin
In 2019, Funke Adesiyan was appointed as one of the political aides to the first lady, Aisha Buhari.
14. Kenneth Okonkwo
Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo who was interested in Nsukka/Igbo Eze south Federal Constituency backed out of the PDP primaries in December 2014. In 2019, he declared his intention to run for Governor of Enugu State at the next election.
15. Bukky Wright
Veteran actress, Bukky Wright also joined politics when she contested as a member of the House of Representatives at the the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, under the Social Democratic Party in 2014.
16. 9ice
Abolore Akande, popularly known as 9ice is a Nigerian musician. He is a south-westerner from Ogbomoso in Oyo State. He contested for the House of Representative seat in Oyo State last general elections but lost at the primaries. The musician still landed a political appointment under the Ajimobi-led administration.
17. Tony Tetuila
Anthony Olanrewaju Awotoye, popularly known as Tony Tetuila, is a Nigerian Afro hip hop artist. The legendary musician who hails from Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, contested for the 2015 National Assembly election for the House of Representatives’ seat of his home constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which he later lost.
18. Yul Edochie
Yul Chibuike Daniel Edochie popularly known as Yul Edochie is a famous Nollywood actor. He is the son of Nigerian actor Pete Edochie. In 2018, he contested for Governor of Anambra State and lost the election to Willie Obiano. In 2019, Yul Edochie wanted to contest for Presidency in the Nigerian general election, but later changed his mind and supported the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar. He was later appointed as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Anambra State on Arts, Culture and Tourism.
19. Onyeka Onwenu
Onyeka Onwenu is a Nigerian singer/songwriter, actress, human right activist, social activist, journalist, politician, and former X Factor series judge. She was the former president of Imo state council for Arts and culture . She was also appointed by former President Jonathan, as the Executive Director / Chief Executive officer of the National Center for Women Development in September 2013.
20. Ubi Franklin
Ubi Franklin is a Nigerian music artist manager, politician, entrepreneur, TV show host and the founder of record label, Made Men Music Group and Instant Apartment. Franklin is the current Special Adviser to Cross River State Governor Benedict Ayade on Tourism.
