Bimbo Akintola Reveals Why Online Bullying Pushed Her to Support Tinubu

Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has revealed that online bullying over political choices pushed her to publicly support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.

Akintola made the disclosure during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, where she criticised Nigerians for attacking people simply because they supported different political candidates. Her comments were also reported by multiple Nigerian media outlets.

The actress said the treatment of veteran actress Joke Silva, who also publicly supported Tinubu, influenced her decision to make her own political position known. Akintola said the backlash against Silva became particularly disturbing to her.

“I supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the last election because Nigerians annoyed me with their bullying,” Akintola said.

She recalled that after seeing the criticism directed at Silva, she decided to record a video declaring her own support for Tinubu despite knowing that she could face further backlash.

“They bullied Aunty Joke to the point that someone wrote something that was so inhumane. So, I made a video and said, ‘I’m also supporting Tinubu, kill me, let me see if you can change my mind,’” she said.

Akintola said Nigerians should accept that people have different political opinions and should be allowed to make their choices without intimidation or personal attacks. She stressed that disagreement over political candidates should not become a reason to bully others.

“Nigerians are annoying. Don’t bully other people. We have our rights to differences of opinion,” she said, adding that people who preferred another candidate were equally entitled to their choice.

The actress has previously spoken publicly about her support for Tinubu. During the 2023 election campaign, she said she backed him because of her view that he had supported talent and the creative industry.

Her latest comments have again placed her political views in the spotlight, while her broader message focused on tolerance and the right of Nigerians to hold different political positions. “You can’t take my voice away from me; it’s mine,” she said.