Tag: Desmond Elliot

In a bid to show solidarity with the governor and people of Edo State, some Nollywood actors, on Saturday, participated in the third edition of the annual IAAF certified 10km Okpekpe road race.

Aside the presence of Desmond Elliot who recently won election to represent his constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, other notable Nollywood actors spotted are Moyo Lawal and Kanayo O. Kanayao.

Elliot, on Saturday, posted a smiling picture of himself, wearing an Okpekpe road race-branded fez cap. He tweeted the shot with the caption: ‘Moyo Lawal and yours truly.’

The Nollywood celebrities joined the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in the celebrity version of the race.

In the VIP race, Oshiomhole won with a time of 88 minutes.

Alex Korio of Kenya won with 29 minutes, 20 seconds to come first. Leigh Gabriesileshe of Ethiopia came second with a time of 29 minutes 22 seconds while Amos Muteh of Kenya came third with a time of 29 minutes, 24 seconds.

In the female category, Tanui Nkele of Kenya came first with a time of 33:34, while Rino Ripo also of Kenya came second with a time of 33:52. Mary Wasera made it a clean sweep for the Kenyans with a time of 34:31 to come third.

The first prize winners in both the male and female categories went home with $25,000 each, while the second prize winners got $15,000 each. The third prize winners in both categories got $10,000 each.

•As Funke Adesiyan concedes defeat

Hollywood actor and candidate of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Desmond Elliot, has won his election bid to represent Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Though, official results are yet to be released as at the time of this report, there are indications that the Nollywood star came tops, going by tweets from his party supporters.

Responding to a tweet from @vanguardngrnews, a conservative Elliot wrote, ‘I appreciate you so much.. waiting for an official announcement RT’

He also posted pictures of water being poured on him by supporters in celebratory manner.

The Nollywood star who introduced ‘Olusola’ to his name during his campaign purportedly defeated his closest rival, Bayo Smith, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the same vein, another entertainment industry personality, Abdullahi Abdulrasheed of Mercury Pictures, who contested for the Kwara State House of Assembly under the APC is also said to have won the election, while actress Funke Adesiyan who contested for Ibadan South-East Constituency in Oyo State, under the PDP, lost the bid, and has since conceded defeat.

Adesiyan, Sunday morning, accepted the outcome of the election via naijahottestgist.com, a notable social media platform, saying, “…I thank everyone for their support and prayers. Though we didn’t win, yet we didn’t lose. I am a better ME! We live to win another day if we refuse to lose focus and derail. Funke Adesiyan.” Congratulating the actress for her sportsmanship, Alex Okoroji said, “Well done Funke Adesiyan, I’m very proud of you darling. Progress isn’t always about winning. It is about growing. And this process will definitely elevate you to an even better leader. You are a courageous woman and I celebrate you for doing what others can’t – and pursuing your desire to serve. May God’s grace be with you always and may your feet lead you where your heart will be pleased! Keep the spirit alive.”

SINCE making his political intention public, popular Nollywood actor and movie director, Desmond Elliot, has come under attacks from some quarters. This was even further heightened when the thespian, for the first time in his lengthy career, decided to use his Yoruba name, Olushola.

The actor, who has been empowering youths recently as part of his campaign programmes, has come out to reveal what he has been passing through since his political intention was made known.

When asked in a recent interview why he had not been using his Yoruba name since he started his foray into the movie industry, he explained that he had to use his English name for professional reasons.

“Politics has been in me for many years, but I wanted a party which was progressive. My choice of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was because it’s stronger and progressive. The party is one you can identify with. This is also a good platform and a good party. It has lots of programmes that cater for  the people’s welfare. It has so much differentiated itself from all others. This is one of the reasons I decided to join the party,” he stated.

According to him, it is laughable when people say he is not from Lagos State. “I am from Lagos State. My father is from Olowogbowo in Lagos Island, but my mother is from Delta State. I refer to myself as being pan-African. People don’t believe I am a Lagosian because I seldom act in Yoruba movies. Also, people don’t believe I am from Lagos State because I don’t include the Shola in my name. Then, because my surname is also English, many are confused about where exactly I am from. I am very detribalised,” he added.

TOP Nollywood star and former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu, has returned to the movie scene, as he is reportedly starring in a new big budget movie, after taking a break from the industry. The movie, according to reports, is being directed by   Desmond Elliot, also a popular Nollywood actor.

Explaining his long absence from the movie turf, he said: “I have really been busy. And all these years, I missed my primary constituency, Nollywood. I missed everything about Nollywood. That is why I have decided to stage a comeback because the pressure has been on me from family, friends and fans across Nigeria, Africa and the world.”

The actor, whose acting career dates back to his appearance in the television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, further stated that he decided to return to Nollywood so as to re-connect with his fans.

“I finally made up my mind to come back to where I belong and put smiles on the faces of people again. This is something I have been doing for over three decades. Yes, I am back in a big way too because this movie will make Nollywood quake. That is all I can tell you for now,” he explained.

TOP Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has described as untrue the rumour making the rounds that he has relocated his family to the US.

It will be recalled that the handsome actor and father of four was said to have travelled to the US with his family for holidays, but decided to let them stay permanently in the country in order to provide better education for his children.

It was also reported that the actor might have relocated his family for protection, as he prepares to venture into politics in 2015.

Elliot, a Nigerian actor and director, has starred in over 200 films and several television dramas and soap operas.