Ishaya Bako’s take on Nigerian politics, 4th Republic, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The political thriller was released earlier this year, a few months after the general elections, and it captures the reoccurring violent interference in our elections and the misogyny of our politics. After its theatrical release, Bako and his team went on a nationwide tour, screening the film in several universities. Now, for the first time, it is available to an audience outside the country.
4th Republic centers on Mabel King, an idealistic woman running for governor in a fictional state in Northern Nigeria. After the violent marred election, King, alongside her campaign manager, Ike, tries to uncover what went wrong and seeks justice through an election tribunal. They must find and convince two young fellows who witness the opposition’s vicious interference in the electoral process and convince them to testify in court.
The film is written by Zainab Omaki, Ishaka Bako and Emil B. Garuba. It stars Kate Henshaw, Enyinna Nwigwe, Yakubu Mohammed, Bimbo Manuel, Linda Ejiofor and Sani Muazu.
4th Republic sees Bako return to stories focused on Nigerian politics after playing in the romantic field with Road to Yesterday and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel. The director first came to limelight with his 2012 documentary Fueling Poverty, which focuses on the 2011’s Fuel Subsidy Scam.
Watch 4th Republic on Amazon Prime.