In a damning revelation that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s entertainment industry, veteran Nollywood actor Fatai Adekunle Adetayo, better known as Lalude, has lifted the veil on what he describes as a campaign of broken promises and financial betrayal following his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid.
The actor’s explosive testimony, delivered in a trending social media interview, paints a troubling picture of how entertainment figures were allegedly exploited during the high-stakes political campaign that brought the current administration to power.
Lalude has accused MC Oluomo, president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), of failing to fulfill financial promises made to celebrities who campaigned for Tinubu.
According to Lalude’s account, he and his colleagues were promised substantial compensation for their campaign efforts but received only a meager N10,000 daily allowance for feeding during what he describes as grueling weeks of political advocacy.
The actor revealed that this paltry sum was further reduced when campaign organizers discovered that the entertainers were attempting to save portions of their daily allowance.
“They were giving us N10,000 daily for feeding. It was supposed to be more than that for campaign opportunities, but they decided to give us N10,000,” Lalude stated, his frustration evident. “And when they get to know that we are saving the money, they reduce the amount, and sometimes they won’t even give it to us for like two to three days.”
The revelation becomes even more troubling when Lalude discloses that after dedicating nearly two months of their time—specifically a month and three weeks—to campaign activities, he and his colleagues were left completely unpaid for their services. Two years after Tinubu’s electoral victory, the promised compensation remains elusive.
In a moment of raw emotion, Lalude issued what could be interpreted as a curse against those withholding the promised payments: “Those withholding our financial benefits for the campaign will not be fortunate for the rest of their life.”
This latest revelation comes on the heels of similar complaints from another veteran actor, Ganiu Nafiu, popularly known as Alapini, who has expressed regret over supporting President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaign, lamenting that he and other Yoruba film actors who stood behind the Renewed Hope movement have been neglected.
The involvement of Nollywood celebrities in political campaigns has long been a contentious issue in Nigeria. Nigerian celebrities who declared support for Tinubu during the last general elections include Saheed Balogun, Bimbo Akintola, Toyin Abraham, Eniola Badmus, Olaiya Igwe, and Seyi Law, among others.
Their endorsements sparked significant controversy, with many fans expressing disappointment and some going as far as unfollowing these celebrities on social media platforms.
The backlash intensified given the prevailing economic hardship and security challenges that had characterized the preceding administration under Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) government. Critics argued that the celebrities’ support for the ruling party was tone-deaf to the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
Now, with Lalude’s public testimony, questions are being raised about the ethics of political campaign financing and the treatment of entertainers who lend their star power to political causes. The actor’s allegations suggest a pattern of exploitation where celebrities’ influence is leveraged for political gain, only for promises to be abandoned once electoral victory is secured.
The timing of these revelations is particularly significant, coming more than a year into Tinubu’s presidency, as Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges, including inflation, fuel subsidy removal impacts, and foreign exchange volatility. The disillusionment expressed by these veteran actors may reflect broader concerns about the gap between campaign promises and governance realities.
As this story continues to trend on social media, it raises important questions about accountability in political campaigns and the responsibility of political parties toward those who support their causes.
The entertainment industry, already facing numerous challenges, now finds itself at the center of a political controversy that could have lasting implications for celebrity endorsements in future electoral cycles.
Neither MC Oluomo nor representatives of the APC have publicly responded to Lalude’s specific allegations at the time of this report. The controversy underscores the complex relationship between entertainment and politics in Nigeria, where celebrity endorsements carry significant weight but may come at a personal cost to the entertainers involved.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Veteran Nollywood actor Lalude’s revelation exposes how celebrities were exploited during Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign—promised proper compensation but given only N10,000 daily for food, then completely abandoned after the election victory.
