By Prosper Mene
The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has formally nominated Nollywood actress and philanthropist Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Okereke, popularly known in the entertainment industry, emerged as the party’s consensus candidate after a screening process and national convention held in Abuja on Friday. She defeated two other aspirants โ Ademola Joseph Onigbokun and Oluwadare Joseph Faduri โ to clinch the ticket.
Party leaders described her emergence as a strategic move to inject fresh leadership and rescue Nigeria from what they termed years of systemic failure, economic hardship, insecurity, and corruption.
In her acceptance speech, Dr. Okereke expressed deep humility and commitment to the task ahead.
โToday, with deep humility, a profound sense of duty, and unwavering faith in the destiny of our beloved nation, I stand before you to formally accept this nomination as the Presidential Candidate and standard bearer of the National Rescue Movement.โ
She described her candidacy as โa sacred assignmentโ aimed at national renewal and vowed to tackle key challenges facing the country.
The National Chairman of the NRM, Prince (Dr) Chinedu Obi, praised the transparency of the process, noting that Okereke was the only aspirant who fully met all constitutional and party requirements. He positioned the 2027 election as a critical opportunity for Nigerians to choose genuine change.
Who is Esther Okereke?
Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke is a seasoned Nollywood actress and film producer known for her roles in movies such as A Woman’s Plight, Wedding Saga, and Crux. She is also recognized for her philanthropic work and business interests across multiple sectors. Her supporters often refer to her as Dr. NEO.
Her entry into the presidential race adds a unique dimension to the evolving 2027 political landscape, joining a growing list of opposition figures expected to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other major contenders.
Political analysts view the NRM as a relatively young but ambitious party seeking to carve a niche through unconventional leadership recruitment.
As the political atmosphere heats up toward 2027, all eyes will be on how Dr. Esther Okereke translates her popularity in the entertainment industry into broad-based political support across Nigeriaโs diverse regions.
