Entertainers Reshape Nigeria’s Political Playbook

The electoral season in Nigerian politics is here again, with personalities vying for elective posts strategising for party primaries. Nine months to the 2027 general election, A few entertainment industry practitioners are also in the fray. In this report, SAMUEL ABULUDE writes on how practitioners in the entertainment industry are vying for elective posts.

The applause has faded, but the cameras continue to roll. This time, the script is the Constitution, the stage is the campaign trail, and the actors are playing for keeps. From Desmond Elliot in the Lagos Assembly to the near-miss of Funke Akindele in 2023, Nigeria’s entertainers are no longer content with jingles and endorsements. They want seats.

Since 2015, entertainers have given political posts a shot, and only a few have gotten the votes needed. Others have been appointed to support the governor’s administration as Commissioners and Special Assistants.

The involvement of actors, theatre practitioners, and musicians in politics has not, in a holistic sense, added much to governance in Nigeria, but it could be argued that they have not been encouraged to run for political office either.

Entertainers Vying For Political Posts In 2027 Election

Presently we have the serial Lagos House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot going for the fourth term to represent Surulere 1 Constituency in the state assembly. Desmond faces an uphill task to win the primary election, as other contestants vying for the same post seem to have the backing of stakeholders in the constituency, including the Chief of Staff and former speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Another member of the entertainment industry contesting for an elective post is Foluke Daramola.

Hon. Foluke Daramola-Salako is vying for election to the House of Representatives, Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency 1.  On 2 May 2026, she formally presented her Expression of Interest and nomination forms to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Oshodi Party Secretariat.

Funke Adesiyan had shown interest in running for the post of the House of Representatives seat for Ibadan South-East/North-East Federal Constituency in Oyo State under APC, but in April had withdrawn from the race after “certain reflections and high-level consultations,” adding that it was a personal and well-considered move.

In Delta State, it was gathered that a producer is seeking an elective post in the House of Representatives; the identity of the person has not yet been ascertained.

For these three industry members, it is not yet known whether they will get the nod or win their party’s primary election to represent it.

Before the 2027 Election Season

In the 2023 election, the likes of Bankole Wellington, known as Banky W, and Funke Akindele contested for the House of Representatives seat in the Eti-Osa constituency and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State under the People’s Democratic Party, respectively, but neither won. Only Desmond Elliot secured his third-term membership in the Lagos Assembly.

Actor Kenneth Okonkwo is a politician presently under ADC not known if he is going for an elective post. He was the media chief in the Labour Party, working for Peter Obi’s mandate in the 2023 presidential election, but has severed his relationship with the former aspirant.

Entertainers have been known to be appointed to the post of Special Assistants/Advisers to Governors or to elected officers in the federal government.

In the present administration, Eniola Badmus is presently the Special Assistant to the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives on Social Events and Public Hearings.

Mercy Johnson was appointed Special Adviser to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo on Public Engagement and Advocacy in February 2026.

Laide Bakare was appointed Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Osun State Governor on Entertainment, Art, Culture, and Tourism in February 2024.

Abdulgafar Ahmed Abiola, popularly known as Cute Abiola, has been the Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Creative Industries since 4 November 2022.

Afrobeats musician, David Adeleke, known as Davido (David Adeleke), holds two key roles within the Osun State Government led by his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke. He serves as Chairman of the Osun Sports Trust and was recently appointed Head of Youth Mobilisation for the 2026 re-election campaign.

Other entertainers like Abolore Akande, known as 9ice, had contested for a seat in the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ogbomosho Federal Constituency in 2015, but lost the party primary. He was subsequently appointed as a Special Adviser on Youth Affairs to former Oyo State Governor, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in 2015.

Kate Henshaw also contested for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency in 2014. Although she lost the primary, she was appointed Special Adviser, Liaison, Lagos, by Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade in December 2015.

Performance Of Entertainers In Political Posts

Actors in the entertainment industry are known to use their roles to mirror society. The influence of industry practitioners in the political sector appears nominal, as only a few members have won election beyond the primaries to elective posts.

Tony “One Week” Muonagor, an entertainer, notably served as the Minority Leader in the State House of Assembly (2011–2015). He is a prominent member of APGA and a supporter of Governor Soludo. He has also served as a Special Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, Culture, and Tourism.

Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), a veteran actor, served as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State, Nigeria, from 2009 to 2015. Appointed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, he previously served as a Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism in 2008, pausing his acting career to focus on public service and policy formulation in his home state. According to a political analyst, RMD did well and attracted the world to the state’s creative potential, organising programs such as Warri Again and others.

A practitioner in the movie industry, Yemi Amodu, speaking on the performance of entertainers in the political sector, said, “Entertainers in politics have done their bit. It is when they get the support that they can shine. Desmond Elliot has been there and is running again; he can also aim higher.  Funke Daramola is also aiming for elective posts, and I support her getting the post.

“On their performance, I think they have done well. Look at the Special advisers and also those who showed interest in running for election. The reason for the low turnout is that politics is becoming more volatile and expensive by the day. We need more entertainers in politics just as President Tinubu has appointed our own in the NFC, Censors Board and other cultural agencies, and there are results to show,” says Amodu.

An analyst and historian, Mr Isaac Daniel, is of the opinion that all that is playing around is a reflection of the state of our society. He stated that entertainers in Politics can only do better if society is more developed, as even those who have been running politics have not done so.

“Nigerian politics looks more toxic, and any entrant must count the cost and get the needed support to be able to wade through the waters. If our entertainers, like Banky W, Funke Akindele, and Foluke Daramola, who have shown interest, and others are encouraged and assured of a level playing field, we will see more industry practitioners in elective positions. Look at what is already playing out in preparations for the 2027 election. Is it encouraging? Politics should be a platform to better the lives of people and the society,” says Isaac Daniel.

Indeed, the celebrity-to-politician pipeline faces specific hurdles in the upcoming cycle. ‎Many stars have struggled to win without the backing of the two major parties (APC or PDP), leading to debates over whether they should join established structures or align with emerging forces such as ADC and NDC. ‎

Also, voters are increasingly demanding more than just fame; they expect candidates to demonstrate technical competence and a clear track record of community service.