By Kelvin Ololo
Renowned filmmaker, broadcaster, and media entrepreneur, Fidelis Duker has officially declared his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat for the Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency.
The development was made known to our newsroom in a press release announcing his political move Duker’s under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the statement, the Henshaw Town-born media executive has already picked up his Expression of Interest form, signaling the formal commencement of his political ambition ahead of the elections.
The release described Duker’s candidacy as a bridge between global exposure and grassroots governance, noting that his decades-long experience in media, culture, and international relations positions him as a strong contender in the race.
Duker is widely known as the founder of the Abuja International Film Festival, regarded as one of West Africa’s longest-running film festivals, and currently serves as Regional Secretary General for the Federation of Pan African Filmmakers (FEPACI).
The statement further highlighted his role in promoting African storytelling on global platforms, including participation at the Cannes Film Festival in France and other international engagements across Europe and Africa.
Speaking after obtaining his nomination documents, Duker said the constituency suffers from “a lack of structured, globally competitive representation,” adding that his entry into politics is aimed at deploying his international network and professional experience toward youth empowerment, infrastructure development, and economic growth.
“My career has been defined by creating wealth, building platforms, and placing Nigerian talent on the world map. I am stepping into this race to deploy that same global network, corporate discipline, and innovative leadership,” he stated.
The media mogul also outlined plans to pursue technology-driven youth development initiatives, attract foreign direct investment to the coastal constituency, and promote transparency in constituency projects if elected.
The statement further noted that Duker possesses academic and professional training from institutions including the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Crawford University, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), BBC Training Academy, Deutsche Welle Training Academy, and the Cross River University of Technology.
As Chief Executive Officer of FAD Media Productions, owners of FAD 93.1 FM Calabar, FAD FM Abuja, and FAD 360 TV, Duker is also described as one of the largest private-sector employers of youths in Cross River State.
The NDC leadership and several support groups reportedly welcomed his candidacy, describing it as a fresh political movement aimed at repositioning the constituency for development and international relevance.
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