The on-going Season 5 of the Nigerian Idol TV Reality Show at the weekend recorded a major upset with the eviction of three outstanding talents – Ayoka, Modele and Prime – from the show, thus ending their hope of continuing in the multi-million naira race.

The trio mark the first set to be evicted from the group of top 12 finalists unveiled recently by the franchise owners, Optima Media Group (OMG) in partnership with sponsors Etisalat Nigeria, Payporte, Cadbury Nigeria, Dabur Toothpaste, So-Klin, ORS, Zaron, Ellis Suites, Tantalizer and Cool FM.

Ayoka’s eviction was the most unexpected and, apparently, a twist of fate as she was considered one of the leading contestants in the five-year-old music competition, having churned out impressive and convincing performances on occasions before her unexpected eviction.

This accounted for the shock and sudden silence that fell on the OMG Dream Studios when show presenter, Ill Rhymz, told the judges and audience that Ayoka had been evicted, after polling one of the three least number of votes. For Ayoka, the news of her eviction so shocking and incredible, leading to an instant emotional break-down on stage. This compelled some consolation from Presenter Rhymz.

“I am disappointed obviously,” Ayoka said in reaction to her eviction, adding: “Nobody will be happy, having to put in a lot of work into what I came here for; but it is fine. I have reassured myself that this cannot be the last for me; it is not possible. I eventually have to stop now, work on certain details to get better and I will be back. I will have to work with what I have been able to achieve here, which is the platform. I don’t have any regret.”

Also speaking, another evictee, Prime, described his experience on the show as “wonderful” while expressing his readiness to maximise the gains provided by the platform. His words: “I think it has been wonderful. Seriously, I have really learnt a lot from my co-contestants, the music director, the choreographer and others around. I think I am fit enough to go back to the industry. I think I am fit enough to start my own stuff, and since I have a platform like this, I feel great. Though I was not really expecting this to happen; but it is fine.”

The third evictee, Modele, who was widely expected to stake claim to the top prize before she left the show, could not hide her disappointment. “I am disappointed. But I believe God has His own plans for me. My expectation was to win. We all came here to give the competition a try, hoping to win it. We know just one person will eventually win it. I had cold on the night of our performance, I was not expecting that. I was losing breath while singing. When I opened my mouth, I felt like coughing and cutting it. I was not expecting that. It started some days before, but God understands why it happened.”

In a related development, the three celebrity judges – Darey ‘Art’ Alade, Yinka Davies and Dede Mabiaku – have called on the voting public to eschew sentiments and vote for the music values, which the show tries to promote among contestants.

The trio watched in amazement and helplessness as Ayoka and Modele, arguably two of the leading contenders, lost the chance to continue on the show to the unkind power of votes.

“The Nigerian public is not voting enough. The Nigerian public is not voting for the right people. They need to do this by eschewing sentiments. We want to see those who have shown real potentials remain on the show and not just voted out.”

Meanwhile, the remaining nine contestants gunning for the N7.5 million top spot cash prize 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, have been put up for another round of eviction.

They include Ogunmoyero Modolowamu (Dolu), Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun (Preye), Godson Goodluck (Classic Tunez), Ogunrombi Kunle (K-Peace), Esther Aritheshoma Monday (Sther), Adigwe Brenda Ada (Brenda), Paul Manuwa (P.Scholes), Okemiri Uloma Margaret (Uloma) and Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan (Nex2).

•Photo: (L-R) Nex2, Preye, K-Peace, Prime Ill Rhymes.