By Adekunle Segun
After ten weeks filled with intense drama, strategy, and challenges, Kingsley ‘Kellyrae’ Sule has been declared the winner of Big Brother Naija Season 9. Kelly triumphed over Wanni Danbaki, who finished a close second with a vote difference of just 3.47%, while Onyeka secured the position of second runner-up during the finale on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
The professional singer who hails from Delta State will be going home with N100M worth of prizes consisting of N60 million cash prize and a brand new SUV. He won the season after amassing 35.95% of the total votes. His strategic approach earned him this win. In a season that had the housemates come in as pairs, Kellyrae chose his newlywed wife, Kassia, as the other half duo.
This season marked a significant milestone as it featured the first married couple as contestants on Big Brother Naija. While Mike Edwards, a married contestant, had come close to winning before, this is the first time a married pair has taken home the ultimate prize. Married just seven months prior to the show, many Nigerians feared that their participation in BBNaija would jeopardize their relatively new marriage, despite being together for eleven years.
Had a poll been conducted at the beginning of the season predicting the DoubleKay duo’s success, most would have likely bet against them due to their marital status, anticipating an early eviction. However, in a surprising turn, what typically undermines contestants actually became their advantage. Kellyrae and Kassia cleverly concealed their marriage from the other housemates, allowing them to form connections without relying solely on each other.
Before his eviction, ex-housemate Toby Forge even expressed romantic feelings for Kassia, who playfully entertained his advances while maintaining boundaries. Though housemates had their suspicions about the couple’s relationship, there was no concrete evidence to support it, and the duo ensured they kept it under wraps.
When BBNaija host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu asked Kellyrae why they chose to hide their marital status, he explained that they wanted to encourage openness among the housemates and avoid being targeted as a couple.
From the first live eviction to the finale, Kassia and Kellyrae consistently avoided the bottom of the voting polls. Even when the competition shifted to individual voting, their fanbase remained strong. In the penultimate episode, they strategically chose not to campaign for Kassia, ensuring that votes would not be split and allowing Kellyrae to secure the win for them both. Their sacrifices ultimately paid off.
With moments of affection that endeared them to viewers and housemates alike, alongside their occasional conflicts, individual talents, and vibrant personalities, they captured the hearts of many throughout the season.
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