Stella Bassey trails with 39% as Week 3 results reveal widening gap at the top
Esther Akitoye has strengthened her position as the frontrunner in the Face of Maritime International (FOMI) Season 11 contest, securing 56 per cent of the votes in the Week 3 Popularity Test to establish a 17-percentage-point lead over her closest challenger, Stella Bassey.
The latest results, released on Sunday, show Akitoye (CCN 007) emerging at the top of the contestants’ ranking following three weeks of voting, reflecting her growing public support and strong fan engagement.
The 19-year-old Lagos State indigene has maintained an impressive run in the competition, pulling ahead of the other contestants as the contest enters another decisive phase.
Bassey (CCN 010) came second with 39 per cent, consolidating her position as Akitoye’s strongest challenger in the race.
Adejoke Adebayo (CCN 003) occupied the third position with 16 per cent, while Ifeoluwa Ige (CCN 001) placed fourth with seven per cent.
The remaining contestants recorded the following results:
- Rokibat Olaoye (CCN 005) – 6%
- Adesewa Odunewu (CCN 002) – 5%
- Chidera Anyaorah (CCN 013) – 2.1%
- Emmanuella Obidigbo (CCN 015) – 1.2%
- Precious Akan (CCN 009) – 0.9%
- Priscillia Nambam (CCN 014) – 0.2%
- Vivian Chibuikem (CCN 012) – 0.02%
- Ayomide Abdulganiyu (CCN 008) – 0.02%
The Week 3 outcome points to an increasingly competitive contest between Akitoye and Bassey at the top, although the other contestants remain in contention as the competition progresses. The struggle for positions behind the leading pair also reflects the varying levels of public support among the participants.
With the Popularity Test concluded, attention is shifting to the institutional support stage, which offers contestants another opportunity to strengthen their positions through wider support and engagement.
The FOMI organisers explained that the Popularity Test is designed to measure contestants’ fan engagement and public acceptance ahead of the grand finale. They encouraged supporters to continue voting for their preferred contestants through the competition’s official channels.
The next phase, known as the Influential Test, commenced today, Monday, November 9, 2026.
The new task is expected to introduce another dimension to the competition, testing the contestants’ influence and ability to mobilise support beyond their immediate fan base.
As the contest enters this stage, the major question is whether Akitoye can sustain her commanding lead or Bassey and the other contestants can mount a challenge to alter the current standings.