Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman became the first actress to achieve this since inception, defeating stars like Funke Akindele, Sola Sobowale, and Bimbo Akintola.
Linda Ejiofor won the 2026 AMVCA awards for Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress in Lagos on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Nollywood star Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman made history at the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards after becoming the first actress to win both Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress in the same night.
The remarkable feat was achieved on Saturday night at Eko Hotels & Suites, where the biggest names in African film and television gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements in the industry.
Linda clinched the Best Lead Actress award for her powerful performance as Ijeoma in The Serpent’s Gift, an Igbo-language drama directed by Kayode Kasum. In the film, she portrays a grieving widow who must navigate family politics and protect her late husband’s legacy.
She later returned to the stage to receive Best Supporting Actress for her role as Adama in The Herd, the directorial debut of Daniel Etim-Effiong. The film explores themes of insecurity, trauma and survival in contemporary Nigeria.
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Visibly emotional during her acceptance speech, Linda reflected on a prayer she made three years ago.
“I remember three years ago, I prayed to God and told Him that I wanted a role that would challenge me, and God did it. He answered me.
“Thank you, God, for giving me this opportunity to stand here. Thank you to AMVCA for this platform,” she said.
Addressing her fellow nominees, the actress praised the calibre of talent in her category. She also expressed gratitude to the cast, crew and directors who entrusted her with the roles.
“To my fellow nominees, you guys were amazing. It was an honour to be nominated alongside you. This is a win for all of us.
“To the cast, the crew and the directors, thank you for trusting me with these roles. Thank you to my fellow cast members for bringing the energy,” she said.
Linda Ejiofor wins Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress
Receiving her second award of the night, Linda became even more emotional as she thanked her family, fans and especially her husband, Ibrahim Suleiman.
“To my beautiful husband, thank you. Because of your love, I was able to transcend into that role and still find myself. To my fans, loved ones, family and inner circle, I love you. This means a lot,” she said.
Speaking about the significance of The Herd, the actress stated, “Stories like The Herd are not just about entertaining people; they are about our shared humanity.”
Linda’s historic double victory was one of the defining moments of the 2026 AMVCA.
Before her win, achieving a “double” in acting categories was considered unprecedented at the AMVCAs. While actors have been nominated for multiple roles in the past, such as Genoveva Umeh being a contender in the same year, Linda is the first to actually take home both trophies
She is the first actress to achieve this since inception, beating stars like Funke Akindele, Sola Sobowale, and Bimbo Akintola.
Widely celebrated for her versatility and emotional depth, Linda first gained prominence through the long-running television series Tinsel.
Over the years, she has delivered memorable performances in films such as The Meeting, Chief Daddy and 4th Republic.
Other major winners included Uzor Arukwe, who won Best Lead Actor, while My Father’s Shadow took home Best Movie.
The ceremony also featured special honours for veterans Kanayo O. Kanayo and Sola Sobowale and performances by Tiwa Savage, BNXN, and Fave.
