Kogi State Actors Guild of Nigeria Elections Postponed Amid Controversy
Kogi State Actors Guild of Nigeria Elections Postponed Amid Controversy
The much-anticipated Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) elections for Kogi State, initially scheduled for August 2nd, were unexpectedly postponed, leaving many stakeholders in confusion and concern. The lack of clear communication from the guild only deepened the intrigue surrounding the situation.
Election Disruption and Allegations our Sources within the AGN reported that the election was disrupted by certain members of the Kogi State branch, who were adamantly opposed to one of the chairmanship contenders, Miss Hassana Ozohu Salisu. Allegedly, these members declared that she would not be fit to lead them, sparking a wave of controversy. According to reliable informants, Salisu had successfully navigated all necessary screenings and had the highest number of registered and revalidated members in her favor.
In a bid to undermine her candidacy, influential “Elders” of the AGN— self-proclaimed veterans of the Kogi state chapter—joined forces with the outgoing chairman, Emeka Shot It, to draft a contentious bylaw that restricted voting rights for newly registered and revalidated members. This move appeared to be a strategic effort to disqualify Salisu, which only intensified the existing tensions as she still refused to step down, stating that she rather lose a challange honourable than stepping down for no concrete reason.
Contenders and Political Maneuvering of the Agn Kogi. The election featured only two contenders for the chairmanships positioning, the melodramatic Miss Nollywood International and Kogi actor James Hero. The Elders seemed to believe that Miss Nollywood was being imposed on them by the national body of AGN due to alleged unresolved conflicts between the Kogi branch and AGN National.
The atmosphere turned hostile as reports surfaced of cultists, described as non-members of AGN, being invited to instigate chaos during the election. Eyewitnesses claimed that approximately 65% of those present directed their frustrations primarily at Miss Nollywood Hassana Salisu , who was portrayed as an outsider. But an indigen born in kogi, what a drama. In a shocking turn of events, Chairman Emeka Shot It shared a document with the Commissioner of Police, listing only 30+ members he deemed eligible to vote. In a recorded video, Shot It’s hostile demeanor was apparent as he threatened dissenting voices, and even insulted a young female voter from the Federal University Kogi, whome he Called Hassana voter in one of the video and tagged a hoodlum in rage, and declared only the 30+ voters are eligible to vote and also declared the national registry invalid and not qualified to be used for the election as well as the constitution of AGN not important to be followed.
She Stand Against Intimidation throughout the tumultuous election process, Hassana who is the current Miss Nollywood faced threats and verbal assaults yet managed to maintain her composure. With her supporters rallying behind her, she stood her ground against the intimidation tactics employed by the hired disruptors. Disturbing footage captured moments during which these cult members confronted her directly, yet they were met with her unwavering determination and silent, and restrictions against the innocent people and followers who came for her sake, telling them if they had any fight they should come to her and leaves the young actors out of it
Escalating tensions reached a boiling point when national representatives, including the Mayor of Abuja, Salma Aminu, and National Vice President North Central, Nazareth Bako, as well as the National secretary were physically and verbally assaulted, forcing them to flee the chaotic scene. The situation escalated to near-violent conditions, raising serious questions about the oversight and governance within the Kogi State AGN.
The events in Kogi State reflect poorly on the AGN’s professionalism, especially when compared to the smooth elections conducted in other states. The silence from the national president following these incidents has left many members and observers alarmed and questioning the guild’s leadership.
While Miss Hassana Ozohu Salisu has yet to publicly address the chaotic events surrounding the election, her rival, James Hero, seems to have plunged into celebrating the postponement, further deepening the divide among their followers.
As the Kogi State AGN navigates this turbulent period, many members are grappling with concerns about the integrity of their guild and the future of their leadership. The unfolding drama begs the question: what steps will the national leadership take to address the unrest and ensure that the voices of all AGN members are heard and respected? In an industry reliant on collaboration and creativity, the need for unity has never been more urgent.
