Celebrity marriages in eye of the storm

A popular notion that oil and water don’t mix aptly explains one of the reasons the relationship between two Nigerian politicians, Ned Nwoko and Natasha Osawaru, and two Nigerian entertainers, 2baba Idibia and Regina Daniels, has enjoyed little or no peace since they announced their relationship.

First was Senator Ned Nwoko whose six-year-old marriage to Regina is in turmoil. After months of speculation, the marital crisis was confirmed by both parties, and today, the centre can no longer hold. Currently, 2Baba’s six-month-old marriage to Edo lawmaker, Natasha, is in trouble. The union is wobbling, tottering, and currently being tossed by the wave of sheer instability. From fanfare to warfare. From fun and merriment to pain and sorrow. Celebrity and their marriages to politicians are critiqued in this feature by The Nation’s Entertainment Editor, GBENGA BADA.

Ned Nwoko and Regina Daniels

The relationship that exists between film star, Regina Daniels and Nigerian politician cum senator, Ned Nwoko, has consistently found attractive spots since their marriage was contracted in 2019.

At the inception of the union in 2019, the media was awash with their seeming gap of 39 years as their age difference – Nwoko, 64 and Regina, 25. Some even speculated that she was way below 19 during her traditional marriage, but Nwoko has dispelled the allegations insisting she was of ripe age when they contracted the marriage, according to the customs and tradition of the Anioma people.

The public space, for a total of six years, has been awash with their love story, which is undoubtedly riddled with controversies. The union lasted for a period of 72 months, until the film star decided to call it quits, after which she claimed domestic abuse, and the politician alleged she was battling drug addiction. Sadly, ever since their union kicked off, the estranged pair have been in the news for various reasons ranging from extra-marital affairs to the birth of children, to the exchange of expensive gifts and recently drug and domestic abuse allegations.

Between 2020 and 2022, the couple welcomed their two children – Munir Neji Ned Nwoko, June 2020; and Khalifa Chiamaka Ned Nwoko, June 2022.

In 2024, social media was abuzz when Regina deactivated her social media accounts and claimed that actress Chika Ike was allegedly pregnant with Ned Nwoko’s child, and was to become his wife, which took over the airwaves. While both parties swiftly denied the rumours, it reignited old speculations about Nwoko’s polygamous tendencies and the pressures Regina might be facing in the marriage.

The couple had gone through the phase of extra-marital affairs with claims that Ned, a confessed polygamist, was planning to take another wife. The pair were able to weather the storm and remained together until 2025.

Senator Nwoko has claimed that Regina’s brother and her assistant are the drug couriers aiding his estranged wife to get an unlimited supply of drugs. In response, Regina admitted being on drugs but insisted that Nwoko always wanted her more sexually when she’s on drugs – a claim the Senator is yet to deny or admit.

2Baba and Natasha

Nigerian musician Innocent Idibia, aka 2Baba, has always been in the news for two major reasons – music and women – in the last three decades of his career as a performing artist.

Notorious for having children with several women outside wedlock, he eventually decided to settle down with Nollywood actress, Annie Macaulay in May 2012.

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However, the marriage only lasted 13 years and produced two children: Isabella and Olivia. All through the 13 years, allegations of infidelity and drug abuse rocked the Idibias’ marriage for the better part of the time it lasted. Speculations were rife that 2Baba was neck deep in love with Natasha while he was still married to Annie – a situation some allegedly said drove Annie into drug abuse. He was also alleged to have been enjoying amorous relationships with other women.

Just when Nigerians and fans of 2Baba were settling into 2025 in January, the ‘African Queen’ announced his separation from Annie and plans to file for divorce.

Shortly after the announcement, 2Baba announced his relationship with Hon Natasha Osawaru, a lawmaker at the Edo state house of assembly and granddaughter of the Esama of Benin, Chief Igbinedion.

Their relationship was initially rejected with 2Baba’s mother kicking against it and some of his brothers expressing disappointment in the singer’s decision.

On July 25, 2025 – six months after his separation from Annie – 2baba married Natasha in a private traditional ceremony in Abuja. The ceremony was attended by close family members and followed Idoma and Benin traditions.

Since the marriage was contracted, those close to 2baba had expressed dissatisfaction claiming Natasha was bad for business. And barely six months into the union with Natasha, all is not rosy in the new home formed by 2Baba. Videos of constant fights between the 50-year-old lanky singer and the Edo lawmaker have been shared on social media at different times.

As the drama continues to unfold, 2Baba’s brothers have expressed their dissatisfaction with his union to Natasha claiming he is unwell.

One of his brothers, Charles Idibia, publicly warned that 2Baba was living in bondage. Charles also accused Natasha of controlling the singer’s devices and disrupting his business activities. He further wrote that she had cloned his WhatsApp, sabotaged his business trips, and told strangers she was his wife.

In the same vein, another brother of the singer, Hyacinth Idibia, appealed to the singer to allow his family to support him as concerns grew over his troubled personal life. “You’ve always been ahead, always been brilliant, lyrics meant to inspire, but somehow, it’s unfolding in real time. Painful reality, allow us to save you. Oyinem, you’ve been suffering for too long. God knows.”

Some industry watchers have opined that 2Baba’s union with Natasha seems to be heading for the canvass as their incessant fights continue to gain public attention.