Nollywood star Bimbo Akintola has opened up about why she publicly supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 elections, revealing that her endorsement was partly a stand against escalating online harassment.
Speaking on the WithChude podcast, Akintola criticised what she described as a toxic wave of cyberbullying that swept through social media during the election period. She said the hostility was especially severe toward celebrities who expressed political opinions.
The actress recalled a particularly upsetting episode involving veteran actress Joke Silva, who, she said, was subjected to relentless and deeply offensive attacks. That incident, Akintola explained, pushed her to openly declare her support for Tinubu as an act of defiance.
According to her, every citizen has a right to personal conviction without intimidation.
“People annoyed me. Nigerians annoyed me. Stop bullying others,” she said. “You don’t like a candidate? That’s your choice. But seeing Aunty Joke bullied so viciously made me say, ‘I’m voting for who I choose — let me see you stop me.’”
Akintola stressed that democracy thrives on diverse views and respectful disagreement.
“We will never all agree, and that’s fine,” she added. “You may still believe he wasn’t the best choice, but he was my choice — and I won’t let anyone take my voice away.”
