NOSC Revote Reaffirms Initial Stance, No Nigerian Film To Be Submitted For Oscars

Following extensive controversy and revotes, the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC) is standing by its initial decision that no Nigerian film is qualified to contend for the International Feature Film category in the 2022 Academy Awards.

In a leaked video which surfaced on Thursday October 20, 2022, the committee voted 9-6 in favor of protecting the initial votes taken on September 3, 2022. Members of the committee who wanted a new census taken include Mahmood Ali-Balogun, the committee’s Vice Chairperson, Mildred Okwo, Shaibu Husseini, Ego Boyo, Moses Babatope, and Kenneth Gyang.

The committee’s initial decision resulted in a tear within the group as some of its members claimed that its “null vote” stance was “predetermined” and without the agreement of all 15 members. The unrest caused the Academy to extend its submission deadline to allow the members reconvene for a revote. A deleted video revealed the reason for the unrest to be allegations of bribery and intense lobbying for Elesin Oba, one of the contenders.

Since the committee’s crisis, three of its members; Mildred Okwo, Shaibu Husseini and Kenneth Gyang have announced their resignation.