Entertainment
List Of ShowBiz Personalities Vying For Political Positions
The latest fad these days in
showbiz is the crave for political positions. The present electioneering season more than anyone else before it has seen the movement of a large number of showbiz stars into politics.
It will be recalled that before now, Nollywood stars Rotimi Makinde and Tonye One Week had contested and won seats in the House of Representatives and Anambra House of Assembly respectively in 2011, comedian cum actor Okey Bakassi and Kanayo O. Kanayo, contested and lost in Imo State.
Kanayo was aiming at House of Representatives while Okey Bakassi was aiming for the House of Assembly. Before then in 2007, top actor Clem Ohameze had tried to contest the Assembly seat in Imo State, but did not go through with the ambition. Just recently, film maker, Afam Okereke contested and won the chairmanship seat of Nkanu West local government Area of Enugu State.
Below is the list of movie and music stars who are contesting for political offices in their various states right now. They include:
Funke Adesiyan :
Funke Adesiyan is a popular actress in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood. She is running for the Ibadan South-East constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly on the All Progressives Conference (APC) ticket. Funke has featured in several blockbuster movies including soap operas.
Bobmanuel-Udokwu:
Bobmanuel Udokwu is currently a Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano on Nollywood and Entertainment. He is contesting under APGA for Idemili North Constituency at Anambra State House of Assembly in 2015 elections.
Kenneth Okonkwo:
The Living in Bondage Star is also gunning for elective office in 2015. Though he has not made an official declaration insiders say the lawyer turned actor and movie producer has concluded plans to contest a seat in the House of Representatives. He is an indigene of Nsukka in Enugu State.
Desmond Elliot:
Nollywood big guy, Desmond Elliot has emerged as one of the hottest contenders for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Surulere 1 Constituency, Lagos State House of Assembly.
He is one of the highest rated actors and directors in Nollywood.
Kate Henshaw:
She is among the first Nollywood Stars to declare political ambition this season. Kate is eyeing the Calabar/Odu Kpani Federal Constitution at the House of Representatives on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Tony Tetuila:
The former member of ‘De Remedies’ and a sole artiste is poised to reinvent himself following a dormant period in his career. The singer is taking a shot at the Kwara State House of Assembly under APC. It was recently revealed that he was not going into politics with his tinted hair.
Gice:
Congo Aso ‘ Singer Abolore Akande has been tranver the nooks and crannies of his ogbomo Sho North/South/Orire Federal Constituency of Oyo State in 2015 campaigning for the APC ticket to represent them in the Federal House of Representatives.
Jibola Dabo:
This Ekiti State born Nollywood actor plans to contest for the Federal House of Representatives under the umbrella of PDP.
Clem Ohameze:
Clems made a feeble attempt to contest the Imo State House of Assembly, but was not successful. Now he is reportedly back and is eyeing the Federal House of Representatives.
KSB:
Successful Gospel Singer and Mother of three is running for a beat at the Lagos State House of Assembly under the platform of the APC.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.