The Big Brother Naija house experienced a dramatic shift this week with the introduction of the first open nomination process, where housemates had to publicly declare their eviction choices.
One of the standout moments was Topher’s nomination of Victoria, which sparked considerable discussion.
He also revealed that Kelly Rae, part of the influential DoubleKay duo, was a strong contender for his second nomination.
In a revealing diary room session, Topher explained his nomination strategy, acknowledging that while Victoria was his official choice, Kelly Rae was a close second.
Reflecting on his decision, Topher admitted that he might have opted differently if he had followed the instructions more closely.
“If I had adhered to the guidelines, I might have included a second name,” Topher confessed, hinting at Kelly Rae as his alternate choice.
During his diary room session with Big Brother, Topher didn’t shy away from explaining his rationale. According to him, he sees Kelly Rae as a major threat in the competition, and with duos no longer officially in play, Topher is keen to see if Kelly Rae’s strength will hold up without Kassia at his side.
“The second (nomination) would definitely have been Kelly Rae,” Topher revealed. “I see him as a huge competition because he has been able to beat nominations three times as a peer or as a duo, formerly a duo, so I wanted to see if he’s good alone by himself or is Kassia holding down the team.”
Kelly Rae and Kassia, known to fans as DoubleKay, have been one of the most resilient pairs this season. Despite facing nominations multiple times, the duo has managed to escape eviction through their charm, gameplay, and strong bond. Their dynamic partnership has made them fan favourites, with many viewers rooting for their continued success in the house.
However, with the recent twist where duos have been dissolved and each housemate is playing as an individual, Topher sees an opportunity to test the true strength of the partnership.
This week’s open nomination format, where housemates openly revealed their nomination choices in front of each other, has added a new layer of tension to the house. Unlike previous weeks, where nominations were kept secret, the open format forces housemates to show their cards, exposing alliances and rivalries that were previously hidden.
Topher embraced this shift, calling it a “good kind of difference” for the house. “It’s a game now, and it needs to be taken more seriously,” he told Big Brother. For him, the open nominations were a reminder that this is not just a social experiment, but a fierce competition for the ₦100 million prize.
When asked if he would have made different choices if he had known about the open nominations ahead of time, Topher stood firm. “If I had known, I would have even nominated the same people,” he said.
