Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has opened up on why she publicly supported and voted for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 general elections, revealing that her decision was reinforced by the intense bullying she witnessed and experienced online.
Speaking on a recent episode of With Chude, she explained that although she had privately considered Tinubu the best candidate based on his track record in Lagos, she initially kept her preference to herself to avoid controversy.
However, the harassment directed at colleagues, especially veteran actress Joke Silva, pushed her to speak out. According to her, Silva faced “inhumane” insults simply for leaning towards Tinubu, and this became “the last straw.”
Akintola recalled that as political tensions rose in January 2023, she too became a target for online attacks after hinting at her preference.
Trolls, particularly from the “Obidient” movement, flooded her pages with insults, threats, and attempts to shame her into silence.
In reaction, she posted a defiant video declaring her support for Tinubu and challenging critics to “kill me” if they believed they could change her mind.
She said the bullying “annoyed” her into taking a public stand, turning what was once a private conviction into a vocal endorsement.
“Don’t bully people because of their choice,” she said. “You prefer someone else? God bless you. But don’t force others.”
Her comments, which resurfaced online this December, have reignited conversations about intolerance during the 2023 elections, a period marked by cyber-harassment, doxxing, and intense polarization.
Many Pro-Tinubu were targets of online mobs, fueling resentment and deepening divides.
Akintola said such hostility only strengthened her resolve, echoing her appearance at a 2023 rally where she insisted that no one should be bullied for their political beliefs.
The revived clip has since gone viral, drawing mixed reactions. Supporters praise her courage, while critics dismiss her explanation as unconvincing.
But Akintola maintains that her stand was about principle: “We all have the right to differ. Disagreement is natural. What’s wrong is bullying others for their choices.”
