Afrobeats musician Iyanya has disclosed that he attended the audition in Calabar, Cross River State, and was chosen for the inaugural season of Nigerian Idols.
He clarified that the only two competitors chosen from the Calabar audition were himself and Omawunmi, who later finished as the first runner-up in the first round in 2007.
The musician clarified, however, that he was unable to compete in the reality show’s finals because of his university final exams.
He claimed to have won the inaugural Project Fame West Africa competition a year later.
In a recent interview with Hip TV, he made this statement while enjoying his role as co-judge of the current season of Nigerian Idols alongside Omawunmi.
“Omawumi and I were the only ones selected at the Calabar Nigerian Idol auditions,” Iyanya stated. I was unable to attend. I took my senior exam. I won Project Fame a year later. We are both judges on Nigerian Idol today.