Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham has distanced herself from the Lagos State All Progressives Congress Campaign Council, saying she is not involved in political campaigning and asking the public to disregard her reported inclusion.
Abraham was listed among members of the Entertainment and Creative Economy Directorate of the Lagos APC campaign council unveiled on Thursday ahead of the 2027 elections.
She was named alongside actors including Jide Kosoko, Eniola Badmus, Bimbo Akintola, Adebayo Salami, Saheed Balogun and Bukky Wright, as well as Fuji musicians Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Obesere and Adewale Ayuba.
However, in a statement on her Instagram Story on Thursday, Abraham said she had not joined any campaign council and reiterated that she was staying away from politics.
She wrote, “I’m not a member of any campaign council. I have said it recently. I am staying out of politics. Please disregard the supposed inclusion of my name in any campaign committee.”
Her decision comes after years of controversy surrounding her political involvement, particularly following her public support for President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.
In March 2023, Abraham spoke about the criticism she faced during a Twitter Space, saying some supporters of Peter Obi had petitioned Netflix over her films and targeted brands associated with her.
She also shared screenshots of messages calling on Checkers Custard to end its relationship with her and said she and members of her family had received repeated insults and threats online.
The controversy continued after the 2023 election. In July 2024, PUNCH reported further criticism against the actress after she took legal steps over what she described as defamatory and cyberbullying content.
One case involved an X user identified as Big Ayo, who accused Abraham of using money allegedly linked to Tinubu to fund a hair transplant for her husband, Kolawole Ajeyemi.
Abraham denied the allegation and petitioned the cybercrime authorities. She later clarified that she had not caused the arrest of the man’s mother, contrary to claims circulating online, but had reported what she described as cyberbullying and defamatory material.
Big Ayo was later released from police custody following an online campaign and appeals for his release.
The incident generated further reactions on social media, including calls by some users for streaming platforms to remove Abraham’s films.
During an Instagram Live session in July 2024, Abraham spoke emotionally about the online attacks and said she had been pushed to her limit. She also said her child had been subjected to curses and maintained that she had only exercised her rights by filing a petition with the cybercrime authorities.
The actress subsequently said she could tolerate criticism directed at her but would not accept attacks involving her children.
Meanwhile, the Lagos APC campaign council document lists Toke Benson-Awoyinka as Director of the Entertainment and Creative Economy Directorate, with Jide Kosoko as Co-Director and Eniola Badmus as Deputy Director. Abraham is still listed as one of the 33 members of the directorate despite her public rejection of the reported appointment.
Source: PUNCH
