Five celebrities who have become political candidates

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The call for the inclusion of youth in governance before the 2023 general election has led to a paradigm shift in the Nigerian political space.

The change is most noticeable in the entertainment space because most celebrities are engaged in politics, and some have been successful in being candidates.

In this part, The PUNCH featured five Nigerian celebrity political candidates for various offices ahead of the 2023 elections.

Funke Akindele

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele, has been named candidate for governor of the Peoples Democratic Party of Lagos State.

In this position, he became the running mate of the PDP Lagos State gubernatorial candidate, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor.

While confirming her position, the actress revealed that she has suspended her acting career to focus on her new political aspiration.

Banks W

Actor and singer Bankole Wellington, known as Banky W won the PDP main ticket for the Eti-Osa constituency in the Federal House of Representatives before the 2023 general election.

It was a double win for the singer as he was previously declared the winner in the first primary election but the result slip showed his challenger Sam Aiboni as the winner.

Following the controversy, another primary was held after two weeks and Banky W won again, voting 24 votes out of 29 votes cast by delegates.

Desmond Elliot

Actor Desmond Elliot, who currently represents Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, won an All Progressives Congress ticket for a third term.

At the primary held on May 202, Elliot polled 30 votes as the sole participant for the ticket.

Elliot contested and won the Surulere Constituency 1 seat in the general election on April 11, 2015. His APC nomination for the second term was unopposed as well as the third.

Ned Nwoko

Famous businessman and politician, Ned Nwoko, got the Peoples Democratic Party’s senatorial ticket for the Delta North district before the 2023 general election.

To celebrate his win, the politician poured more than N10m on his staff, while he gave N100,000 each to more than 100 members of his staff.

Nwoko is married to a famous Nigerian actress, Regina Daniels, and they have two sons.

Odi Okojie

Actress Mercy Johnson’s husband, Odi Okojie, won a ticket to the All Progressives Congress for a seat in the House of Representatives for Edo State.

With his win, Okojie emerged as a candidate for the Esan North East/South East federal constituency before the 2023 general elections.

Okojie married Mercy Johnson in 2011 and they have four children.