Fidelis Duker Reps bid gains attention as the veteran filmmaker joins the House of Representatives race in Cross River

Veteran Nollywood filmmaker and media entrepreneur Fidelis Duker has officially declared his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat representing Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South Federal Constituency in Cross River State.

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Fidelis Duker entered the race after obtaining his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, marking a significant transition from the entertainment industry into active politics.

Speaking shortly after collecting the forms, Duker said his ambition was driven by the need to bring globally competitive leadership, youth-focused development and strategic investment opportunities to the constituency.

This already generated conversations within political and entertainment circles, largely due to the filmmaker’s extensive international experience and longstanding influence in Nigeria’s creative sector.

“Our constituency does not suffer from a lack of potential; it suffers from a lack of structured, globally competitive representation,” Duker stated.

The Henshaw Town-born filmmaker added that his decades of experience in media, business development and international networking would be deployed to attract sustainable growth and economic opportunities to the constituency.

Widely recognised as one of the pioneers of Nollywood’s modern growth, Fidelis Duker founded the Abuja International Film Festival, regarded as West Africa’s longest-running film festival.

The filmmaker also currently serves as Regional Secretary-General of the Federation of Pan African Filmmakers, further strengthening his profile as a cultural ambassador and industry leader.

Over the years, Duker has represented Nigeria at several global entertainment platforms, including the Cannes Film Festival, while building strategic partnerships across Africa and Europe.

Political observers believe his emergence introduces a fresh and dynamic dimension to politics in Cross River State, particularly with his background in cultural diplomacy, media enterprise and international engagement.

As Chief Executive Officer of FAD Media Productions, owners of FAD 93.1 FM Calabar, FAD FM Abuja and FAD 360 TV, Duker has also been credited with creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians through the media sector.

The aspirant said his legislative agenda would prioritise youth empowerment, transparent constituency projects, technology-driven development and investment attraction.

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Supporters within the NDC and several community groups have welcomed his candidacy, describing it as a powerful opportunity to reposition the constituency for stronger economic growth and global visibility.