Chief Tony Okoroji, former President of PMAN and Chairman of the Board of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s biggest copyright collective management organization, has called on creatives across the length and breath of Nigeria to ensure that they fully participate in the general elections taking place in 2027.
Speaking during the annual “No Music Day” broadcast streamed around the nation and around the world on September 1, 2026, Chief Okoroji said: “Nigeria is approaching another important moment when citizens will once again be called upon to exercise one of their most powerful democratic rights—the right to vote. For musicians, actors, filmmakers, writers, publishers, photographers, comedians, producers, designers, visual artists, content creators and every other member of Nigeria’s creative community, this should not be treated as just another political exercise.
“The creative community must understand that the political decisions made at the ballot box have direct consequences for creativity, intellectual property, employment, royalties, cultural development and the economic survival of millions of Nigerians. A government that understands and respects the creative economy can create an environment in which artistes prosper. A government that neglects, manipulates or weakens copyright protection can leave creators struggling while others profit from their works. Therefore, Nigerian creatives must vote with their heads—not merely with their emotions”.
Said Chief Okoroji: “Nigeria is a country of extraordinary ethnic, cultural and religious diversity. That diversity should be a source of strength, not a weapon for political manipulation. Musicians and other creatives have a special responsibility because creativity naturally crosses boundaries. A song can be produced by an Igbo musician, enjoyed by a Hausa listener, promoted by a Yoruba broadcaster and streamed by a Christian, Muslim or traditional believer. A Nollywood movie can bring together people from every corner of Nigeria. Art does not ask for a person’s tribe before touching the heart”.
In the “No Music Day” broadcast made from the magnificent COSON House in Ikeja, Chief Okoroji, the internationally respected Intellectual Property activist and author of the book, ‘Copyright & the New Millionaires’, warned that the creative community must reject the dangerous habit of supporting political candidates simply because they are from our ethnic group, speak our language, belong to our religious community or have the endorsement of influential personalities around us with personal interests. In his words: “A politician does not become competent because he is Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Christian or Muslim.
Competence is competence. Integrity is integrity. Vision is vision. Accountability is accountability. The question which we must answer at the ballot box should be simple: What will this person do for Nigeria and, specifically, what will this person do for the people whose creativity sustain our cultural economy?”
Speaking on the consequences of elections and the people who take office as a result, Chief Okoroji referred to the ongoing controversy arising from the activities of the immediate former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami who deployed the oversized political power which he wielded during the Buhari administration and for pecuniary reasons, flexed his muscles to force the decisions that have cost the music industry in Nigeria billions of naira. According to the COSON Chairman, before Malami’s actions, the Nigerian copyright system had become the toast of other nations. According to Okoroji, “the industry has practically been forced to go back into a dog-eat-dog situation.
Unfortunately, one of the consequences of Malami’s actions is that for some time, a lot of Nigerian artistes cannot earn money due to them internationally, because their Interested Party Information (IPI) can no longer be accessed due to the effect of Malami’s actions.
“This is why creatives must pay attention to who makes laws, who administers those laws and who supervises the institutions responsible for protecting creative rights. A government agency responsible for protecting intellectual property rights should not become an instrument for settling political scores, rewarding friends or weakening legitimate organizations. The law must be applied consistently, regardless of whose ox is gored”.
Chief Okoroji says that the creative industry should no longer be a side attraction to the Nigerian economy as it has become a major component of Nigeria’s cultural identity with significant economic potentials. He argued that Nigerian music, film, fashion, literature and digital content have travelled across the world and our creatives have built international brands from bedrooms studios, churches, streets and small offices.
He however warned that one of the greatest dangers facing Nigeria’s creative community is political short-sightedness. In his words: “a politician may give an artist money today, invite a few entertainers to a political event, make promises during a campaign or offer temporary patronage. But what happens after the election?
“This is not a call for creatives to belong to one political party or another. It is a call for us to become politically intelligent. My experience is that Nigeria’s creative community is powerful when united.
“Musicians should not fight filmmakers. Actors should not fight writers. Publishers should not fight composers. Producers should not fight performers. Different organizations may have different interests, but there should be a common commitment to the protection of creativity.
“The industry must demand policies that protect intellectual property, encourage investment, strengthen copyright enforcement and guarantee transparent royalty administration. We must also stop allowing politicians to divide creatives along ethnic and religious lines”.
Said Chief Okoroji in the broadcast: “A Yoruba musician’s copyright is not different from an Igbo musician’s copyright. A Christian songwriter’s intellectual property does not deserve more protection than that of a Muslim songwriter. A northern filmmaker’s creative rights are not more important than those of a southern filmmaker. Copyright has no tribe. Creativity has no religion. Talent has no political party. That should be our guiding principle”.
