AGN’s position on 2023 electioneering, urges Nollywood actors to take responsibility

Emeka Ejezie

The organized body for actors in the movie sector, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, has through its national secretariat issued a communiqué to all members of the association concerning their participation in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

The National Executive Committee of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, rose from A One-Day Crucial Meeting to issue this Communique at the End of the meeting, which is here signed by the Director of Communication of AGN, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, with the following as resolution.

That the National Executive Committee appreciates all members who took part in the sensitization campaigns on the permanent voters’ card registration (PVC) enlightenment drive that ended on 31st July 2022, as the campaign’s targeted reach was rated very high with the resolve to embark on various enlightenment campaigns to sensitize Nigerians further on the need to have a peaceful national election in February 2023.

In a statement made available to “Precious Eze’s Blog” by the President of the guild, the communiqué says that the Guild is not against the ambition of any political aspirants, but the Guild cannot openly support or campaign for any aspirant in the coming election as the AGN is neither a non- political nor a non-profit making Association, but recognises the right of individual members to the campaign, support, promote and even endorse any aspirant of their choice stating that such individual does not represent the interest of the AGN and must not speak in a manner of representing or on behalf of the Guild. Any member who violates the order will be sanctioned accordingly.

Furthermore, AGN says that any political party that discusses campaign promotion, rallies and other political issues with an individual actor on behalf of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, does so at their own risk. Consequently, the Actors Guild of Nigeria is a National Association committed to improving members’ welfare, well-being, development of the creative industry and overall national development.

The National President of the AGN, Ejezie Emeka Rollas advises members to take into cognizance, the manifestos of political aspirants for the creative industry especially, on how to intend to develop Nollywood before giving their support, calling on all Presidential aspirants to come out with their blueprints on how to develop the Nollywood and the creative industry in general.