It is an unexpected but emotional moment for Rita Daniels, mother of Nollywood star Regina Daniels, as she reportedly lost her bid to become the next President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
Rita was one of the most talked-about candidates in the highly anticipated election, going head-to-head with Abubakar Yakubu, the current National Secretary of the Guild.
The election, held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, was organised to choose a successor for outgoing AGN president Emeka Rollas, who has led the Guild for years.
According to circulating reports, Rita Daniels was defeated by her opponent, Abubakar Yakubu; a result that instantly triggered heated reactions on social media.
Moments after the news broke, Nigerians trooped online to share their opinions, many claiming the outcome was predictable.
One user, sylviasylvia853, dropped a controversial take, “She was never going to win when her son-in-law is financing the board.” Another commenter, blackonye2, dismissed the candidacy entirely, “She’s not supposed to be there sef. She’s not qualified.”
manarisa_1 tied the loss to past controversies, “After breaking EPA’s heart? No na, we already saw this coming. We knew they would never allow her win.” Emiliaakpabot also hinted that the outcome was expected, “There was no way she was going to win. The freebies are over.”
Others pointed fingers at alleged political forces behind the scenes.
Officialprowess wrote, “I first know say Chinedu no go allow her win.” sheddyoflagos added, “How do I feel Chinedu had a shadow in this?” Another user, blac.kbeauty533, claimed, “Epa don work overnight.”
chi_mikie echoed the earlier claim about power influence, “We all know she will lose out when their godfather is Ned.” And callmehayjay concluded, “It was already obvious that she wasn’t going to win.”
This loss isn’t Rita’s first electoral setback.
In 2022, she became the subject of online discussions after securing only one vote at the PDP House of Assembly primary election, where she contested to represent Aniocha South Constituency in Delta State.
Despite political disappointments, Rita has made notable strides in other areas.
In March 2023, she bagged a Bachelor’s degree from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), announcing her plans to proceed to Law School.
Later that same year, the Delta State Governor appointed her as Senior Special Assistant on Women’s Mobilisation, an appointment her daughter, Regina Daniels, celebrated publicly, praising her mother’s persistence and resilience.
Rita’s defeat signals another turning point in the evolving politics of the AGN; a Guild where influence, alliances, and past relationships often shape outcomes.
With social media buzzing over allegations of “godfatherism” and past grudges, it’s clear the AGN election has once again become a mirror reflecting Nollywood’s internal power dynamics.
For now, Rita Daniels is yet to release an official statement regarding her loss.