Franchise owners of Nigerian Idol TV Reality Show, Optima Media Group (OMG), has unveiled the last 12 contestants in the on-going season 5 of the show.

The unveiling which took place at the Dream Studios, Ojodu-Omole at the weekend was in association with Show sponsor, Etisalat Nigeria and partners, Payporte, Cool Fm, Tantalizers, Tom Tom, Zaron, Dabur Toothpaste, So-Klin, ORS and Ellen Suites.

The top 12 most outstanding acts will be squaring up against one another from the week of April 26 for the N7.5 million top spot cash reward as well as other multi-million naira juicy offers chief among which include a recording deal with South Africa-based Universal Music label and a brand new SUV car.

They had beaten 20 others to make the cut.

The contestants include Ogunmoyero Modolowamu (Dolu), Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun (Preye), Janet Ebiwari Ayoka (Ayoka), Godson Goodluck (Classic Tunez), Ogunrombi Kunle (K-Peace), Esther Aritheshoma Monday (Sther), Adigwe Brenda Ada (Brenda), Ekeoma Victor Chibuzor (Prime), Paul Manuwa (P.Scholes), Okemiri Uloma Margaret (Uloma), Omodele Diana Fatoki (Modele) and Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan (Nex2).

For some, making the top 12 cut was a rather easier task with a lot of thanks to their performances and the public voting process. Others had to travel the nervy route laden with uncertainties, happenstance and the Judges’ Wild Card to get to this stage.

In the first eviction show featuring 10 contestants from an initial pool of 30, Prime, Dolu and Preye expectedly got the nod ahead of seven others after posting outstanding performances to position as the brightest choices of both the judges and the viewing public.

The second batch was dubbed the ‘group of Death’ on the strength of its consisting of the competition’s leading contenders in Brenda, Modele, Sther, Tama Nisa, Shayee and Classic Tunez.

At the end of proceedings, Brend, Tama Nisa and Nex2 emerged victorious, but not without some displeasure from the judges over Nex2’s qualification.

He had been dubbed the ‘worst performer’ from the pack. Tama Nisa however, pulled out of the competition on health grounds, and was subsequently replaced by Classic Tunez who had to prove his mettle after returning to the show on the Judges Wild Card platform. 

The third batch threw up the likes K-Peace, Ayoka and Uloma whose qualification raised some eyebrows especially from the Judges and a section of the viewing public that rated her performance below par.

Sther, Modele and P.Scholes were picked to complete the puzzle by the judges through the wild card route. They had to fend off last minute competition notably from Oluchi, Sopriye and Precious.

The Top 12: Who Are They?

Dolu, real name Ogunmoyero Modolowamu, is a 25-years old civil servant from Ondo State who currently lives in Benin. She emerged as one of the three outstanding performers from the first batch. She was auditioned in Ibadan.

Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun is known on the Show by the stage name, Preye. She is a 24 years old indigene of Bayelsa state who currently lives with her family in Lagos. She a professional make-up artiste, and auditioned in Benin City.

25 years old Janet Ebiwari Ayoka is known on Stage as Ayoka, an indigene of Ondo state. She was auditioned in Lagos where she currently lives in.

Godson Goodluck goes by the Stage name, Classiq Tunez. The 25 years old from Imo state is a fresh graduate, and was auditioned in Ibadan.

Ogun state born K-peace, real name Ogunrombi Kunle is 32 years old and into music as a performing artiste. He is one of the leading lights in the current season with his infusion of Fuji brand of music. He auditioned in Lagos.

23 years – old Esther Aritheshoma Monday is from Delta State, and an entertainer. Known by the stage name, Sther, she represents the Show’s story of transformation.

Discovered as a Tomboy in Port Harcourt during the auditions, she has gone on to position herself as a no-pushover for the top prize.

19 years old Adigwe Brenda Ada with the stage name, Brenda hails from Delta State. She is a multi-talented entrepreneur and one of the several contestants with command performance during the group stage. She auditioned in Lagos

Gentle-looking Ekeoma Victor Chibuzor, an indigene of Abia state is a musician and just 23 years of age.

He is known on the Show as Prime, and will be expected to offer viewers best of performances.

Soft-spoken Paul Manuwa with the Stage name, P.Scholes is an indigene of Delta state. He is a 22 years old student. A good singer, but must overcome shyness to compete more favourably at this stage of the competition.

Uloma had a rather forgettable nervous performance during the group stage, but still pulled through. Born Okemiri Uloma Margaret from Abia state, the 24 years old is a 300 Level student of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State where she is studying Linguistics and Communication Studies.

Uloma auditioned in Ibadan and got a golden ticket after missing out in Port Harcourt.

Modele’s voice maturity and composure on stage were too precious to be overlooked by the Judges who brought her back to the show through the Wild Card option. The 27 years old student from Ogun State was born Omodele Diana Fatoki. She auditioned in Lagos.

Nex2 has not started his Nigerian Idol Season 5 campaign on a better note, despite making it to the top 12 in season 4.

His qualification drew the ire of the judges who had rated his performance very awful and did not consider him a contestant to get a look in.

His real name is Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan from Edo state. He is 23 years old and a student. He auditioned in Benin City.

Nigerian Idol Top 12 Finalists, Ese Amadasun Idowu (Nex2), Ogunrombi Olakunle  Koya (K-Peace), Ekeoma Victor Chibuzo (Prime), Akunwa Godson Goodluck (Classiqtunez) and Manuwa Paul (P. Scholes),  during the unveiling of Nigerian Idol season 5 top 12 contestants held at the OMG Dream Studios, Omole-Ojodu, Lagos on Saturday.