Nigerian celebrities are stepping into the political arena ahead of the 2027 general elections, bringing familiar faces from Nollywood, comedy, entertainment and business into contests for some of the country’s most influential public offices. While some are seeking to represent constituencies they have longstanding connections with, others are pursuing positions that could place them at the centre of decisions affecting entire states or the country.
The growing list has also produced an interesting mix of political parties, constituencies and campaign priorities, with candidates promising everything from vocational training and employment opportunities to improved healthcare, infrastructure, youth participation and accountable governance. Their political journeys have taken different routes, from party primaries and internal negotiations to official candidate listings, with some personalities securing nominations after years of public involvement in entertainment and community activities.
Esther Okereke, NRM Presidential Candidate
Esther Nkem Okereke is among the most prominent entertainment personalities seeking political office in 2027, having secured the presidential ticket of the National Rescue Movement. The Nollywood actress and filmmaker emerged as the party’s presidential candidate following its national convention and presidential primary held in Abuja on May 31, 2026, where she reportedly secured the nomination through a unanimous voice vote. Her emergence made her the party’s first female presidential candidate, placing her at the centre of a national political contest that will take her ambition beyond the entertainment industry.
Okereke’s political ambition is built around her ESTHER Agenda, a programme whose name represents Education, Security, Technology, Housing, Entrepreneurship and Restitution. These areas form the foundation of the proposals she has communicated as part of her presidential campaign, covering important concerns affecting households, businesses, young people and communities across Nigeria. Her academic background includes studies in Political Science and International Relations, alongside a PhD, while her professional experience includes film production, talent management and entrepreneurship.
Education and security feature prominently in her proposed priorities, with technology and entrepreneurship also receiving attention as areas that could contribute to national development. Her housing agenda addresses another major concern for Nigerians, while restitution forms part of the wider framework she has presented to explain her political vision. She has also appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily to discuss her ambition and explain some of the issues she hopes to address if elected president.
One of the major developments in her political journey came with her inclusion on INEC’s final list of presidential and vice presidential candidates published on September 12, 2026. The list identifies Esther Nkem Okereke as the NRM presidential candidate, with Nasir Sulaiman as her running mate, confirming that her candidacy has progressed beyond the party primary. She is therefore seeking to translate her entertainment career, business experience and political proposals into a national mandate in the 2027 presidential election.
Doris Ogala, AAC Governorship Candidate
Nollywood actress Doris Ogala is seeking to become the next governor of Abia State under the platform of the African Action Congress. Her political journey has included involvement in Abia State affairs, including a brief appointment as an adviser on Creative Arts, Culture and Tourism during the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. She later became more vocal about her interest in the state’s political direction before emerging as the AAC governorship candidate following the party’s primary election on May 30, 2026.
Ogala, whose full name is Umezurike Doris Uzumma, has presented her ambition around economic development, job creation, education, healthcare, infrastructure and improved welfare for residents. Her proposed agenda addresses several areas of everyday life in Abia, particularly the need to expand economic opportunities and improve public services. She has also spoken about transparency and accountability, presenting them as important parts of the leadership approach she intends to bring to the governorship if elected.
Her campaign became more pronounced in August 2026 when she unveiled her manifesto and began addressing the performance of Governor Alex Otti’s administration. Among the issues she raised were electricity supply, the development of Ariaria International Market and the treatment of pensioners. She challenged some of the administration’s claims about its achievements and questioned aspects of its infrastructure record, making these issues part of her political argument for a change in leadership. Her criticisms remain campaign allegations and are best understood as positions she has publicly expressed.
Ogala’s candidacy is also reflected in INEC’s final list of Abia governorship candidates, where her full name appears under the AAC alongside her running mate, Chionye Nnabugwu Chukwudi. Her appearance on the official list establishes her position as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election. She is now seeking to convince Abia voters that her proposed approach to employment, public infrastructure, healthcare and accountability offers a suitable direction for the state.
Damilola Ayinde Marshall, APC Candidate For Surulere II
Damilola Ayomide Ayinde Marshall, daughter of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, is among the celebrity connected personalities who have secured party tickets ahead of the 2027 elections. She is contesting for Surulere Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress. Before securing the nomination, she served as Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, a position that placed her within the state government’s political and administrative environment.
Her ambition became public in early 2026, followed by her purchase of the APC nomination form in April and participation in the party’s screening exercise in May. She emerged as the party’s candidate on May 20, 2026, after a consensus driven primary process during which several aspirants reportedly stepped down in her favour. Following her emergence, she thanked party leaders, delegates, fellow aspirants and supporters for the opportunity to represent the constituency.
Damilola’s campaign message focuses on youth inclusion, female participation in governance, vocational training, entrepreneurship and community development. One of the practical initiatives connected to her political priorities came on September 2, 2026, when she launched a 2 month vocational skills training programme for residents of Surulere Constituency II. The programme was designed to equip participants with practical skills they could use to establish businesses, improve their earning capacity or pursue employment opportunities.
While explaining the purpose of the initiative, she highlighted the gap between academic qualifications and the economic realities facing many people, stressing the importance of providing skills that could create long term earning opportunities. Her wider commitments include supporting youth participation in decision making, increasing female representation in politics and pursuing people oriented legislation that addresses the needs of residents. She has also promised to promote development initiatives that could improve opportunities within Surulere and other parts of Lagos State.
INEC’s final list of Lagos State House of Assembly candidates identifies her as Ayinde Marshall Damilola Ayomide under the APC for Surulere II. The official listing is particularly important because some earlier reports incorrectly referred to her constituency as Surulere I. Her actual contest is Surulere Constituency II, where she will be seeking a legislative mandate from residents in the 2027 election.
DeeOne, BOOT Party Candidate For Ibeju Lekki I
Comedian and former Big Brother Naija housemate DeeOne is another entertainment personality who has secured a party ticket for the 2027 elections. His full name is Aderombi Adedayo Martins, and he is contesting for Ibeju Lekki Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly under the Because Of Our Tomorrow Party, popularly known as the BOOT Party. He became widely recognised following his participation in Big Brother Naija in 2018, but his latest political ambition has placed him in a different kind of public contest.
DeeOne emerged as the BOOT Party candidate following the party’s primary election, with his victory reported on June 4, 2026. He subsequently announced his emergence on Instagram, thanking the party for giving him the opportunity to represent the constituency. One of the clearest statements from his campaign came when he promised residents that he would be their worker rather than their boss if elected, presenting his intended role as one of service rather than authority.
His campaign priorities have so far centred on people oriented representation, accountability, responsive leadership and attention to the needs of residents of Ibeju Lekki Constituency I. His promise to work for constituents rather than rule over them forms the central message of his political entry, suggesting that he wants residents to see an elected representative as someone answerable to the people who gave him the mandate. He has also spoken about the importance of leadership that responds to the concerns of ordinary residents.
Another interesting aspect of his political position is his public declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu’s second term ambition, despite contesting the Lagos Assembly seat under the BOOT Party. His position shows that his preferred presidential candidate is not necessarily determined by the party under which he is seeking a legislative seat. INEC’s final Lagos State House of Assembly candidate list identifies Aderombi Adedayo Martin as the BOOT Party candidate for Ibeju Lekki I, confirming his place in the 2027 legislative contest.
Ike Cubana, APGA Candidate For Idemili North And South
Businessman Ikenna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Ike Cubana, is bringing another dimension to the growing list of celebrity connected political candidates. He is the younger brother of prominent businessman Obi Cubana and is seeking to represent Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance. His ambition became public in February 2026, when he announced his intention to contest for the House of Representatives, placing his name among the prominent business personalities seeking elective office ahead of the general elections.
On May 4, 2026, he submitted his expression of interest form at the APGA national secretariat in Abuja, taking another step towards his political ambition. He had also been involved in Anambra politics before declaring his intention to contest, including serving as Director General of the Soludo and Ibezim re election campaign team in Idemili South. His experience in political mobilisation became part of the background to his decision to seek a legislative position.
Ike Cubana has presented a development focused agenda covering employment, healthcare, infrastructure, technology driven agriculture, support for traders and local businesses, alongside social welfare. While addressing political stakeholders and party executives in Idemili South in April 2026, he spoke about meaningful representation, overall development and the welfare of residents. He also identified agriculture as an area where technology could be used to improve productivity and create more economic opportunities for people in the constituency.
His proposed priorities include improving access to healthcare services, supporting local businesses and encouraging employment opportunities across Idemili North and South. He has also promised what he described as engaging representation, suggesting that residents should have a stronger voice in decisions affecting their communities. His emphasis on traders and agriculture connects his political message with economic activities that support many households across the constituency.
INEC’s final list of Anambra House of Representatives candidates identifies him as Iyiegbu Ikenna Obumneme under APGA for Idemili North and Idemili South. His inclusion confirms that he has moved beyond announcing his ambition and submitting an expression of interest form to become an officially listed candidate for the federal legislative election. He will be seeking to turn his business background and development proposals into electoral support across the constituency.
Olumide Oworu, APM Candidate For Surulere I
Nollywood actor Olumide Oworu is returning to the political arena after his experience during the 2023 general elections, this time seeking a seat in the House of Representatives. He is contesting for Surulere I Federal Constituency in Lagos State under the Allied Peoples Movement, marking another attempt to move from entertainment into elective public office. His earlier political experience came under the Labour Party, when he sought to represent Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
During the 2023 election cycle, Oworu was expected to challenge Desmond Elliot for the Lagos Assembly seat, but his name did not appear on the final ballot. The Labour Party candidate eventually listed was Adebayo Bode, and Oworu subsequently accused INEC of failing to comply with a Federal High Court order concerning the submission of Labour Party candidates. The experience became an important part of his political history and was recalled when he announced his latest ambition on November 10, 2026.
His current campaign message centres on accountable governance, youth participation, conscience driven leadership and greater involvement of younger Nigerians in political decision making. Oworu has argued that young people should take an active role in determining the direction of the country rather than leave decisions about their future entirely in the hands of established political figures. He has also presented his latest political move as part of a broader desire to reset Nigeria and encourage a governance system that pays attention to the long term consequences of public decisions.
The actor has recalled the support he received from young people in Surulere during his previous political attempt, describing that experience as part of the motivation behind his return. His message also emphasises the need for younger Nigerians to participate in shaping public policy and demanding accountability from elected officials. However, the priorities publicly communicated in his November 10 declaration have not yet developed into a detailed constituency level manifesto containing specific proposals on roads, healthcare, education, employment or other federal legislative matters.
INEC’s final Lagos House of Representatives candidate list identifies Oworu Olumide Abiodun as the APM candidate for Surulere I, with his age listed as 31. This means his latest declaration came after his name had already appeared on the official candidate list published on October 31, 2026. He is therefore entering the 2027 election as a listed candidate, seeking to represent Surulere I at the National Assembly.
Celebrities Who Sought Tickets Without Securing Them
The growing involvement of celebrities in Nigerian politics also includes personalities whose attempts to secure party nominations did not produce the outcome they wanted. Some participated in party activities and pursued nomination forms, while others eventually withdrew or failed to emerge as candidates after internal party contests. Their experiences provide another part of the political picture ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly as the number of familiar entertainment personalities seeking public office continues to increase.
Actor Emeka Ike is among those who have acknowledged a setback after failing to secure the National Democratic Congress ticket for AMAC and Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory. During an interview published on November 4, 2026, he acknowledged that he had not secured the party nomination but maintained that the outcome would not end his interest in public service. He also indicated that he remained open to other opportunities, leaving room for a possible future political move.
Celebrity businessman Cubana Chief Priest also pursued the APC ticket for Orsu, Orlu and Oru East Federal Constituency in Imo State. His attempt encountered a setback during the party’s nomination process in May 2026, although he disputed the suggestion that he simply lost the primary. He maintained that he withdrew following consultations over the party’s zoning arrangement. INEC’s final candidate list subsequently identified Canice Moore Nwachukwu as the APC candidate for the constituency.
Former Lagos State House of Assembly member Desmond Elliot was also among the political figures whose names featured in discussions about the 2027 contest. He withdrew from the APC primary for Surulere I, while actress Funke Adesiyan withdrew from the contest for Ibadan South East and North East Federal Constituency in Oyo State. Foluke Daramola also obtained APC nomination forms for Oshodi Isolo I Federal Constituency in Lagos, but did not emerge with the party ticket.
Another entertainment personality whose political position attracted attention was actor Zubby Michael, who registered with the African Democratic Congress in April 2026. His party registration generated discussions about a possible House of Representatives ambition, but he had not confirmed plans to contest for elective office at the time of the reported development. His name was also absent from INEC’s published Anambra House of Representatives candidate list, meaning he should not be included among the confirmed candidates.
The 2027 Political Race
The candidates who have secured party tickets represent different parts of Nigeria’s entertainment and business communities, but their political ambitions have taken them into contests with different responsibilities and expectations. Esther Okereke is pursuing the presidency with an agenda covering education, security, technology, housing and entrepreneurship, while Doris Ogala is seeking control of Abia State with promises centred on jobs, healthcare, infrastructure and public accountability. Their contests will require them to convince voters across an entire country and state respectively, making their campaign messages particularly important as the election approaches.
The Lagos legislative race has also attracted attention through Damilola Ayinde Marshall and DeeOne, who are contesting under different political parties for different constituencies. Damilola has placed vocational training, youth inclusion and community development at the centre of her campaign, while DeeOne has emphasised service oriented representation and accountability to residents. Ike Cubana is pursuing a federal legislative seat in Anambra with proposals covering employment, agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure, while Olumide Oworu is returning to politics with a message focused on accountable governance and youth participation.
Their presence on INEC’s published candidate lists provides an important basis for identifying those who have progressed beyond political declarations and party activities. However, securing a party ticket or appearing on an official candidate list is not the same as winning an election, as the final decision rests with voters when they head to the polls in 2027. For these personalities, the next major test will be taking their campaign promises beyond public announcements and convincing the people in their respective constituencies and states that they are prepared to represent their interests.
