By Habeeb Ibrahim
Several Nollywood actors have moved beyond the entertainment industry to pursue political ambitions, contest elections, secure government appointments and take up leadership positions in political parties.
From Desmond Elliot’s election into the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015 to Funke Akindele’s appearance on the 2023 Lagos governorship ballot and Olumide Oworu’s latest declaration for the 2027 elections, actors have continued to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s political space.
Some have won elective positions, while others have lost party primaries, contested elections without success or served as political appointees.
Although there is no official national register of Nollywood practitioners who have ventured into politics, a review of publicly reported cases identifies at least 20 prominent actors and actresses who have participated in the political process in different capacities.
Their political journeys span several parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Democratic People’s Congress (DPC).
ACTORS WHO HAVE CONTESTED ELECTIONS OR HELD POLITICAL POSITIONS
1. Desmond Elliot – APC (2014/2015)
Desmond Elliot is among the Nollywood actors who have successfully transitioned into elective politics. He joined the All Progressives Congress in 2014 and contested the Surulere Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015.
He won the election and was re-elected in 2019 and 2023. He has continued to combine his political career with his involvement in filmmaking.
2. Tony One Week (Tony Muonagor) – ACN (2011)
The late actor and entertainer Tony Muonagor, popularly known as Tony One Week, ventured into politics in 2011 when he contested for the Idemili North Constituency seat in the Anambra State House of Assembly under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
He won the election and subsequently served as a member of the state legislature. He later became a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and was appointed Special Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Arts, Culture and Tourism to former Anambra Governor Willie Obiano.
3. Richard Mofe-Damijo – Government appointment (2008/2009)
Veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, entered public service in Delta State under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
He was appointed Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism in 2008 before becoming Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in 2009. He served in the position until 2015.
His political involvement was through government appointments rather than an elective contest.
4. Hilda Dokubo – PDP/Labour Party (early 2000s/2023)
Veteran actress Hilda Dokubo was among the earlier Nollywood personalities to venture into government.
She served as Special Adviser on Youth Affairs to former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili in the early 2000s.
In March 2023, she was appointed chairperson of the Labour Party’s three-member steering committee in Rivers State following the dissolution of the previous state executive.
5. Nkiru Sylvanus – Government appointment (2011)
Actress Nkiru Sylvanus joined the list of Nollywood personalities in government in 2011 when former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha appointed her Special Assistant on Lagos Affairs.
Her responsibility included serving as a liaison between the Imo State Government and indigenes of the state living in Lagos.
She was subsequently appointed Special Adviser on Public Relations to the Imo State Government.
6. Kate Henshaw – PDP (2014/2015)
Veteran actress Kate Henshaw announced her political ambition in 2014 when she declared her intention to contest for the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
She sought the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party but lost at the party’s primary election to incumbent lawmaker Essien Ayi.
In December 2015, she was appointed Special Adviser, Liaison, Lagos, by former Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade.
7. Femi Adebayo – Government appointment (2016)
Popular Yoruba actor Femi Adebayo was appointed Special Assistant on Arts, Culture and Tourism to former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in February 2016.
The actor, who is also a lawyer and filmmaker, described the appointment as an opportunity to contribute to the development of tourism and cultural activities in his home state.
8. Ini Edo – Government appointment (2016)
Nollywood actress Ini Edo was appointed Special Adviser on Tourism, Culture and Development by former Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel in February 2016.
She announced the appointment on social media, describing the opportunity to serve her state as an honour.
9. Mercy Johnson-Okojie – Government appointment (2017)
Actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Entertainment, Arts and Culture to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in March 2017.
The appointment was announced alongside those of other government aides and took effect from April 1, 2017.
10. Bob-Manuel Udokwu – Government appointment (2022)
Veteran actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu has served under successive administrations in Anambra State.
He previously worked as Senior Special Assistant on Creative Media during the administration of former Governor Peter Obi and later served as an aide during Willie Obiano’s administration.
In April 2022, Governor Chukwuma Soludo appointed him Special Adviser on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism.
11. Kanayo O. Kanayo – PDP (2011)
Veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo also explored elective politics under the Peoples Democratic Party.
In 2011, he sought to represent the Ahiazu/Ezinihite Mbaise Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives but did not secure the party’s ticket after losing in the primaries.
12. Funke Adesiyan – PDP (2014/2015)
Actress Funke Adesiyan contested for the Ibadan South-East Constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly.
She won the PDP’s primary election in 2014 and became the party’s candidate for the 2015 general election but lost the main election to her APC opponent.
In 2019, she was also appointed as one of the political aides to former First Lady Aisha Buhari.
13. Bukky Wright – SDP (2014/2015)
Veteran actress Bukky Wright also ventured into partisan politics when she declared her intention to contest for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
She pursued the ambition under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2015 general elections.
14. Yul Edochie – DPC (2017)
Actor Yul Edochie joined the governorship race in Anambra State in 2017 under the Democratic People’s Congress (DPC).
He contested against candidates from established political parties but did not win the election.
In 2019, he also expressed interest in contesting for Nigeria’s presidency under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), although that ambition did not translate into a presidential candidacy.
15. Olubankole Wellington (Banky W) – MDP/PDP (2019/2023)
Singer and actor Olubankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, entered elective politics in 2019 when he contested for the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the Modern Democratic Party (MDP).
He lost the election to incumbent lawmaker Babajide Obanikoro of the APC.
In 2023, he returned to the contest under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but lost to Thaddeus Attah of the Labour Party.
Attah polled 24,075 votes, while Banky W received 18,666 votes.
16. Funke Akindele – PDP (2022/2023)
Popular actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele became the running mate to the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
She contested for the deputy governorship position in the March 2023 election.
The PDP ticket lost to the APC candidates, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat.
17. Tonto Dikeh – ADC (2022/2023)
Actress Tonto Dikeh was announced as the running mate to Tonte Ibraye, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, in June 2022.
The pair were expected to contest the 2023 governorship election.
However, the ADC subsequently withdrew from the race and adopted the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, as part of a political alliance.
Consequently, Dikeh did not proceed to contest the governorship election.
18. Kenneth Okonkwo – PDP/APC/Labour Party (2014–2025)
Actor and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo has had several engagements with Nigerian political parties.
He was previously associated with the PDP and explored a House of Representatives ambition in 2014 before withdrawing from the party’s primary process.
He later joined the All Progressives Congress but left the party in 2022 following disagreements over its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
On August 23, 2022, he officially joined the Labour Party and became one of the prominent spokespersons for Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign.
However, in February 2025, he announced his resignation from the Labour Party, citing the party’s internal leadership crisis.
19. Eniola Badmus – APC/Government Appointment (2023)
Nollywood actress Eniola Badmus joined the list of entertainment personalities who have ventured into Nigeria’s political space through a government appointment.
In 2023, she was appointed Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Social Events and Public Hearings.
The appointment came after the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly and marked her entry into public service.
Although Badmus has not contested an elective position, her appointment places her among Nollywood personalities who have taken up political and government responsibilities outside the entertainment industry.
20. Olumide Oworu – Labour Party/APM (2023/2027)
The latest addition to the growing list is Nollywood actor Olumide Oworu, who has declared his intention to contest for the Surulere I Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives in 2027.
Oworu first ventured into elective politics in 2023 when he sought the Surulere Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly under the Labour Party.
His name, however, did not appear on the final ballot, following administrative and legal complications surrounding the party’s candidate.
He has now announced his 2027 ambition under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), marking a shift from his previous attempt to become a state lawmaker to seeking a seat in the National Assembly.
His latest declaration has renewed attention on the political ambitions of younger Nollywood actors.
FROM MOVIE SETS TO POLITICAL OFFICES
The experiences of these actors show that Nollywood’s involvement in Nigerian politics goes beyond campaign appearances and celebrity endorsements.
While Desmond Elliot and Tony One Week secured legislative seats, others such as Richard Mofe-Damijo, Femi Adebayo, Ini Edo, Mercy Johnson and Bob-Manuel Udokwu entered government through appointments.
Meanwhile, Kate Henshaw, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Banky W, Funke Akindele, Tonto Dikeh and others pursued elective positions but did not secure the offices they sought.
The political journeys also reveal that the actors have not been confined to one political party. Their affiliations have cut across the APC, PDP, Labour Party, ADC, ACN, SDP and DPC.
With Oworu’s declaration for 2027, the relationship between Nigeria’s entertainment industry and electoral politics is likely to remain a subject of public interest.
Note: The figure of 19 represents the prominent individuals identified in this review, not an exhaustive official count. It includes elected politicians, candidates, party officials and political appointees. An appointment by a governor does not, by itself, establish the appointee’s membership of that governor’s political party.
