Mercy Johnson-Okojie, the Nollywood actress, has been criticised on social media for campaigning for Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming Edo election.

A now-viral video shows Mercy soliciting votes for Okpebholo at a rally. She also assured the crowd that the APC gubernatorial candidate will “bring positive changes” to the state.

“Are you not tired? No light, water, healthcare, security and good roads. If you will vote for senator Monday, raise your hand,” she said.

“…So when you get to that field early in the morning, vote for Monday, vote for APC, vote for the broom.”

Mercy Johnson rallying support for the APC, urging the crowd in Ward 6, Irruekpen, Esan West LGA, to vote for the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. pic.twitter.com/7ZY7RKXJZ9

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) September 13, 2024

The video has triggered backlash on social media with critics slamming the actress for supporting the ruling party despite widespread economic hardship.

“Mercy Johnson is just a cheap opportunistic agbero with zero class and zero morality in my opinion. Imagine supporting blabbing Tinubu and now also supporting Illiterate Monday Okpebholo of all people. Talent is really not enough,” an X user wrote.

Mercy Johnson is just a cheap opportunistic agbero with zero class and zero morality in my opinion.
Imagine supporting blabbing Tinubu and now also supporting Illiterate Monday Okpebholo of all people.
Talent is really not enough.

— Amber Ose Ibeh™ (@masurge7) September 13, 2024

Mercy Johnson no try, how can she be campaigning for APC, it's her right una go talk, right to make foolish and greedy decision…

— Bush Doctor 🌿 (@f0944366) September 13, 2024

Mercy Johnson that was counting a crate of eggs lamenting,

How costly it had become under the same Administration of APC that she played Women's wing for and supported.

She out there in Edo State supporting a ma that has refused to appear on TV to discuss what he has for Edos.

— BENNY FEBIAN IYKE (ABIA STATE FIRST SON ✍️) (@IkechiBene65006) September 13, 2024

Mercy Johnson dull sha…
Talent is not enough tbh, how can any reasonable person stand in for Apc And for Monday to be governor of Edo state, an illiterate.

— EPIPHANY THE FIRST ✝️ (@Kittyprincezam2) September 13, 2024

Mercy Johnson no learn from Toyin Abraham abi.

Later when den ask her for Senator Monday Okpebholo promises, she go begin shout dem dey bull¥ me upandan SM, dey make crying videos, dey threaten people with police.

Make nobody cry and gaslight anybody for here later sha. https://t.co/7EsTJ4DSmX

— GBEMISOLA CFC💙 (@QUEENOFDBLUES1) September 13, 2024

That video by Mercy Johnson will make you understand that, politicians no really send us.

As long as they and their family are not experiencing any form of hàrdship, they will keep pushing the agenda that they are the best candidate we can ever have.

Shey b na two cups of rice… pic.twitter.com/QZOkXzE4Nj

— Just Eniola 💜 (@JustEniola01) September 13, 2024

If you all like follow mercy Johnson campaign oo. You all should know that she has cashed out. She only working for the money. Don't be foolish to follow her. If Nigeria spoil e no affect her oo. pic.twitter.com/e45sYlyUJ6

— Linzkits…(inspired world domain) (@Linzkits_FC) September 13, 2024

Pop star Justin Timberlake was sentenced to community service on Friday after pleading guilty to a drink-driving charge, according to US media reports.

The 43-year-old was arrested on 18 June in Sag Harbor, approximately 100 miles east of New York City, after police observed his BMW running a stop sign and swerving between lanes.

In August, Timberlake pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated during a virtual court appearance before a judge, who ordered the suspension of his driver’s licence in New York state, US media reported.

However, Sag Harbor Village Justice Court justice Carl Irace later handed Timberlake a community service sentence and ordered the star to make a public statement after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of driving while alcohol-impaired, The New York Post reported.

The officer who pulled over the “Cry Me a River” singer said Timberlake was in no fit state to drive.

“His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odour of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, his speech was slow, he was unsteady on his feet, and he performed poorly on all standardised field sobriety tests,” the police report stated.

The Police Command in Ebonyi, says the explosion that claimed the lives of a couple, Mr and Mrs George Onuabuchi in Abakaliki, Ebonyi’s capital was from a gas cylinder and not from an inverter battery.

DSP Joshua Ukandu, spokesman of the Command in the state told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday that the incident occurred on August 25. Ukandu said that a preliminary investigation showed that the couple died from a gas explosion.

“It happened on the waterworks axis in Abakaliki on August 25. The residents living around the scene called the attention of our personnel who visited the place but the couple has already been taken to hospital.

“It’s very unfortunate that both finally died. The wife, Chioma died sometime in August while the husband died this month, September.

“We gathered that the wife was a younger sister to the popular Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Patoranking.

“There are no much details because the victims could not survive to tell the story. So, what killed them was gas and not inverter explosion,” the police spokesman explained.

Also speaking with NAN one of the relatives who refused to mention his name described the incident as bad for the family.

“They were young couple. They had only a child, a three-year-old son.

“Please I have more to say. I cannot say more than this. They have gone,” the relative said.