Toyin Abraham Rejects APC Campaign Council Appointment, Says She Is Staying Out of Politics

Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham has rejected her inclusion in the Lagos State All Progressives Congress campaign council, saying she has no intention of participating in political activities at this time.

Her decision came shortly after the Lagos APC released the structure of its campaign council ahead of the 2027 elections, with her name appearing among several prominent entertainment personalities selected to serve under the Entertainment and Creative Economy Directorate.

The list included Toyin alongside veteran actor Jide Kosoko, actresses Eniola Badmus and Bimbo Akintola, and Fuji musicians including Pasuma, Obesere and Adewale Ayuba.

However, Toyin quickly clarified that she had not agreed to the appointment and did not consider herself a member of the campaign council.

In a statement shared on her Instagram Story, the actress said she had already made her position on political involvement known and was choosing to remain outside partisan politics.

She also appealed to members of the public to disregard the appearance of her name on the campaign committee list.

Her clarification came on the same day the APC campaign council structure was made public, creating confusion over whether she had accepted the role or had simply been listed without her consent.

The development has attracted considerable attention because of Toyin’s prominence in the Nigerian entertainment industry and the growing involvement of celebrities in political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Lagos APC campaign council is expected to coordinate the party’s campaign activities across the state as it prepares for the 2027 elections.

The entertainment and creative economy directorate was created to bring together influential figures from Nollywood, music and other creative sectors as part of the party’s wider campaign structure.

Toke Benson-Awoyinka was named director of the directorate, while Jide Kosoko was listed as co-director and Eniola Badmus as deputy director.

Other members include several well-known actors and musicians from the Yoruba film and entertainment industries.

The council is scheduled to be formally inaugurated at the APC Secretariat on ACME Road, Ikeja.

The inclusion of Toyin Abraham in the published list initially suggested that she would participate alongside the other entertainers.

Her subsequent rejection, however, means that her name appearing on the document should not be interpreted as evidence that she has accepted a political role within the party.

The actress’s decision also comes after she had previously indicated that she preferred to stay away from partisan political activities.

Her latest statement reinforces that position and makes clear that she does not want to be presented as a member of the campaign council.

The incident has sparked discussions online about how political parties select celebrities and other public figures for campaign structures.

While entertainers have the right to participate in politics and support political parties, they also have the right to decline political appointments or distance themselves from campaign activities.

For celebrities with large followings, political association can also attract significant public attention, with supporters and critics often interpreting their participation as an endorsement of a particular candidate or party.

Toyin’s decision appears aimed at preventing such an assumption in her case.

By publicly rejecting the appointment, she has separated herself from the campaign structure and asked Nigerians to disregard the reported inclusion of her name.

Her position also highlights the importance of obtaining consent before publicly presenting individuals as members of political organisations or campaign committees.

The development comes at a time when Nigerian political parties are increasingly turning to entertainment personalities and social media influencers to reach younger voters and expand their public messaging.

Celebrities can have millions of followers across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and other platforms, making them potentially influential figures during election campaigns.

Their participation can generate significant publicity for political parties, while their refusal can equally attract public attention.

The Lagos APC campaign council contains several directorates covering different aspects of the party’s campaign strategy.

Beyond entertainment and creative economy, the wider structure includes areas dealing with governance, legal and compliance matters, party and inter-party affairs, administration, logistics, traditional institutions, diaspora engagement and grassroots mobilisation.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is listed as chairman of the campaign council, while Lagos Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is listed as deputy chairman.

Former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode are among senior figures included in the party’s advisory structure, while former Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is listed as director-general of the campaign council.

The campaign structure is part of the APC’s preparations for the 2027 electoral contest in Lagos.

Toyin Abraham’s rejection therefore comes at an early stage of the campaign, when parties are still assembling their teams and identifying personalities they hope will contribute to their political messaging.

Her decision does not necessarily indicate support for another political party or candidate.

Rather, her public explanation specifically states that she is staying out of politics.

That distinction is important because refusing a campaign appointment does not automatically amount to an endorsement of an opposing political movement.

For now, Toyin has made her position clear: she does not regard herself as a member of the Lagos APC campaign council and does not intend to participate in a campaign committee.

The actress’s decision is likely to continue generating discussion as political parties increasingly seek the involvement of entertainment personalities ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, unless Toyin announces a change in position, her latest statement indicates that she intends to maintain her distance from partisan political campaigning.