Martins Iyeh and Ijeoma “Mercedes” Emi have become the first housemates to leave the Big Brother Naija Season 11 reality show after being evicted during Sunday night’s live broadcast.
The pair were sent out of the “Show Ya Sef” house following the first public voting exercise of the season, which saw them record the lowest vote percentages among the nominated housemates.
Martins received 1.63 per cent of the total votes, while Mercedes secured 2.29 per cent. Keivo, who polled 2.92 per cent, narrowly avoided eviction and will remain in the competition.
Martins was announced as the first housemate to exit the show, with Mercedes following shortly afterwards, making it the first double eviction of the season.
The eviction took place two weeks after the season officially began on July 26, when 24 contestants entered the house with hopes of winning the grand prize package valued at ₦160 million. The package includes ₦100 million in cash and an SUV.
The latest edition of the reality show is hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and carries the theme “Show Ya Sef”, with “Everything Is For The Taking” serving as its tagline.
Martins’ time in the house
Martins, 30, is from Kogi State and joined the competition as a visual storyteller, creative director and model.
The basketball enthusiast also revealed mind-reading as one of his unusual talents. During his introduction, he said he entered the house mainly to enjoy the experience and even challenged viewers to vote him out if he failed to entertain them.
One of the moments that attracted attention during his stay was his birthday celebration, which was organised by fellow housemates. Mercedes performed a lap dance for him during the celebration, sparking reactions among viewers and on social media.
Despite his relatively short stay, Martins was involved in several social activities and interactions that helped shape the early weeks of the season.
Mercedes’ journey
Mercedes, whose full name is Ijeoma Emi, is a 26-year-old from Delta State. She works as a massage therapist, performance artist and concierge business owner, while also identifying as an entrepreneur.
She entered the house promising viewers a combination of entertainment, confidence, authenticity and vulnerability. She described the personality she intended to bring into the competition as “boss energy”.
Mercedes quickly became one of the more noticeable personalities in the house because of her active participation in social activities and her interactions with other contestants.
She was also involved in a heated disagreement with fellow housemate Oyin, which became one of the talking points of her time on the show.
First-week twist
The first week of the competition ended without an eviction after Biggie introduced a new twist known as “The Gambit”.
Under the twist, two housemates were guaranteed a place in the competition until the finale but would not be eligible to win the grand prize.
Flora was selected as the female Gambit, while Aikou became the male Gambit.
The first week also saw Chimsom Chuka emerge as the winner of the Head of House challenge. However, another twist meant the HOH lounge was given to Tram, who chose Sheba as her companion.
Competition heats up
The second week brought more strategic developments as Sheba, also known as Faith Gamde, won the Head of House challenge and became the first female HOH of the season.
Biggie subsequently introduced “Conspiracy Hour”, giving housemates an opportunity to meet selected allies in a designated area and discuss strategies, alliances and possible ways to secure safety.
The nomination process was also modified. Instead of selecting housemates they wanted out, contestants were asked to name three housemates they wanted to save.
Tram, Barry, Cassi, Goddessa and Bells initially emerged among those who received significant save votes.
Sheba later exercised her HOH authority by withdrawing Cassi’s safety and transferring the immunity to Chimsom Chuka.
With the Gambits already protected from eviction, a larger group of housemates became exposed to the public vote, eventually placing Martins and Mercedes among those at risk.
The second week featured a mixture of arguments, social gatherings, romantic exchanges, wager tasks and strategic discussions, as contestants began forming alliances and positioning themselves for the weeks ahead.
The departure of Martins and Mercedes now marks the first exits of the “Show Ya Sef” season, leaving the remaining housemates to battle for survival and ultimately the ₦160 million prize package.
