Nigeria’s entertainment industry, once a prominent source of enthusiastic support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is now witnessing a wave of public regret from some of its most vocal backers.
What began with energetic campaigning built on Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” message and his record as former Lagos State governor has, midway through his first term, given way to frustration over economic hardship, inflation, and unmet expectations.
From Campaign Cheers to Public Apologies
In the lead-up to the 2023 general elections, numerous Nollywood actors, musicians, and comedians rallied behind Tinubu, confident that his administration would usher in stability and progress.
Nollywood actress, Bukky Adekogbe Raji, popularly known as Aminatu Papapa, was among those who believed Tinubu’s leadership would transform struggling local economies. She campaigned openly, inspired by his achievements in Lagos and his personal promises of reform.
Yet in a recent viral interview on Oyinmomo TV, she delivered an emotional apology to Nigerians, calling her support for Tinubu “the greatest mistake” of her life.
“If they asked me the one thing I have done in my life that I regret, it was during that election time. May our means of survival never fall into hardship,” she said.
Aminatu recounted how her family’s respect for Tinubu’s governorship influenced her vote, only for rising inflation, a weakened naira, and fuel subsidy removal to shatter her hopes.
“Whenever we had meetings with him, he also promised to do well. After the elections, I had a rethink. What I regret is that we were told that they wanted to renew the hope,” she said.
She emphasized that her support was genuine and unpaid:
“It was from my heart… Now, I know I was misled.”
Other Nollywood Voices Join in Criticism
Aminatu’s apology is far from isolated. Veteran actor, Ganiu Nofiu a.k.a Alapini Oosa, who campaigned tirelessly for Tinubu, also expressed disillusionment, revealing feelings of betrayal and abandonment.
“We campaigned with joy, thinking our messiah had arrived,” he said in an interview.
“We spent two months campaigning for him, entering markets, walking through remote areas, even when we weren’t political figures.”
Alapini lamented that despite the sacrifices he and his colleagues made—including potential damage to their careers—the president and his team failed to acknowledge their support.
“Would Seyi [Tinubu] claim he did not see us, the old folks, during the campaign? Was he blind to our presence?”
Veteran actor Fatai Adekunle Odua, otherwise known as Lalude also shared his anger, warning that those who promised them rewards for their campaigning efforts have failed to deliver.
“If we curse them, they will not escape it, even in death. We campaigned for Sanwo-Olu and Tinubu, yet we’ve received nothing. Is that fair in this one life we came to live on earth?”
Musicians and Younger Stars Speak Out
Rapper MI Abaga added his voice to the growing chorus of regret in a recent appearance on The Manism Podcast.
He admitted to backing the APC in 2023, explaining he felt the PDP was deeply corrupt at the time.
“Yes, I supported APC because at that time, I felt that the PDP government was very corrupt,” MI said.
“As a human being, no matter how much you try to be right, you will be wrong. APC, unfortunately, is not the APC of my dreams.”
His comments highlight how disappointment is not limited to Nollywood’s veterans but extends across generations in the entertainment industry.
An Earlier Wave of Regret
This trend isn’t entirely new. In 2023, even before Tinubu’s first year in office was up, actress Ronke Oshodi-Oke told Chude Jideonwo in an interview that she regretted campaigning for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
She cited her disillusionment with Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s conflicting explanations during the EndSARS protests as a turning point.
“I love APC. I’m a fan of APC in body and soul. I felt APC was going to take Nigeria to the next level… But I was down during the EndSARS issue. Our governor kept saying three things at the same time. Three things! Does that make any sense to you?”
Despite these regrets, Ronke insisted her support wasn’t motivated by personal gain.
“Even while campaigning for them, I didn’t collect much… I wasn’t looking at the money. I was looking at what was going to happen later.”
Broader Celebrity Support and the Changing Mood
During the 2023 campaign, Tinubu and the APC secured endorsements from a long list of prominent Nollywood figures and entertainers, including Eniola Badmus, Toyin Abraham, Jide Kosoko, Olaiya Igwe, Seyi Law, Joke Silva, Desmond Elliot, and Foluke Daramola.
Many of these celebrities appeared at rallies, posted on social media, and campaigned vigorously, convinced that Tinubu’s presidency would deliver “Renewed Hope.”
But the worsening economic crisis has altered the conversation. Inflation, rising food prices, and subsidy-related fuel cost spikes have put pressure on everyday Nigerians—and some of Tinubu’s once-enthusiastic celebrity backers are now publicly reconsidering their choices.
As the administration reaches its midterm mark, the gap between campaign promises and lived economic realities is becoming a source of heated debate not only among the general public, but also among the artists and entertainers who once championed the president’s cause.
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