Martins Iyeh and Ijeoma “Mercedes” Emi have become the first housemates to leave the Big Brother Naija Season 11 house after they were evicted during the live show on Sunday night.
The pair were evicted on the Sunday live show after viewers’ votes determined the outcome of the season’s first eviction.
Martins, 30, was announced as the first housemate to leave, followed by Mercedes, 26, making it the first double eviction of the “Show Ya Sef” season.
The vote percentages were posted during the live eviction. Martins had 1.63% of the vote, and Mercedes had 2.29 per cent, saving Keivo, who had 2.92 per cent. They were the bottom three of the week.
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The eviction came after a week of twists and strategic manoeuvring that placed a large number of housemates up for public voting.
The season, which premiered on 26 July, began with 24 housemates competing for a record ₦160 million prize package, comprising ₦100 million in cash and an SUV.
Hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the season carries the theme “Show Ya Sef”, with the tagline “Everything Is For The Taking”.
Twist
Unlike the conventional opening week, no housemate was evicted in Week 1 as Biggie introduced a major twist known as “The Gambit”.
Under the twist, housemates voted for one male and one female who would be guaranteed a place in the house until the finale, but would be excluded from the competition for the grand prize.
Flora and Aikou emerged as the two Gambits, securing protection from eviction but losing their eligibility to win the season’s main prize.
Chimsom Chuka also emerged as the first Head of House (HOH), although another twist meant the HOH lounge went to Tram, who selected Sheba as her companion.
Martin’s Journey
Martins Iyeh, a 30-year-old from Kogi State, entered the house as a visual storyteller, creative director and model.
A basketball enthusiast, Martins also identified mind-reading as one of his hidden talents.
At the launch, he said he was primarily in the house “to have fun” and challenged viewers to vote him out if he failed to deliver.
During his short stay, Martins established relationships with other housemates and participated in social activities.
His birthday became one of the notable early moments of the season, with fellow housemates organising a celebration for him.
Mercedes also performed a lap dance for Martins during the celebration, generating significant attention on social media.
Despite his visibility during the opening weeks, Martins was ultimately the first housemate evicted from the competition.
Mercedes’ time in the House
Mercedes, whose real name is Ijeoma Emi and who is also known as Victoria Ijeoma Emi, was introduced as a 26-year-old from Delta State.
She is a massage therapist, performance artist, concierge business owner and entrepreneur.
She entered the house with what she described as “boss energy”, promising viewers entertainment, authenticity, vulnerability and confidence.
Mercedes quickly became one of the more visible personalities in the house.
Her performance during Martins’ birthday celebration attracted attention, while her energetic presence on the dance floor also made her a notable figure during the early days of the season.
She was also involved in a heated disagreement with Oyin, including a dispute over the pronunciation of her name and other tensions between the two housemates.
Her confident personality and outspoken approach made her a prominent participant in the early house dynamics.
However, after finding herself among the housemates exposed to the public vote, Mercedes failed to secure enough support to remain in the competition.
Week two twists
The game intensified in the second week, with Sheba (Faith Gamde) winning the HOH challenge and becoming the first female Head of House of the season.
Sheba’s victory gave her immunity and additional powers that would prove significant in determining the week’s eviction dynamics.
Biggie also introduced the “Conspiracy Hour”, during which housemates could enter a designated Conspiracy Zone with selected allies to discuss strategy and possible saves.
The arrangement was designed to encourage strategic conversations while restricting housemates from discussing what took place inside the zone outside it, with sanctions possible for violations.
The nomination process was also altered.
Rather than asking housemates to nominate those they wanted evicted, Biggie instructed them to name three housemates they wanted to save.
The save-based voting initially placed Tram, Barry, Cassi, Goddessa and Bells among those receiving protection.
Sheba subsequently exercised her HOH power by stripping Cassi of safety and transferring the immunity to Chimsom Chuka.
With the Gambits also protected, the changes left a sizeable group of housemates exposed to the public vote, among them Martins and Mercedes.
The week also saw the introduction of a Most Influential Player ranking, with housemates rating one another on a scale of one to five.
The season’s prize structure also came under renewed scrutiny, with the ₦100 million cash component potentially reduced based on the housemates’ performance on tasks.
Beyond the strategic twists, the week was marked by arguments, social gatherings, romantic conversations, wager activities and growing alliances as housemates sought to strengthen their positions.
Season 11
The eviction of Martins and Mercedes marks the first time a housemate has left the “Show Ya Sef” house since the season began.
The outcome also highlights the importance of the season’s unusual save-based nomination system, the HOH powers and the strategic alliances formed during the first two weeks.
With the pair now out of the competition, the remaining housemates will continue their pursuit of the ₦160 million prize package as the season progresses.