Hanged on the premise of political power play, The Exco only succeeds in imbibing the same chaos it portrays. What started as an intriguing thriller on politics and corruption slowly spirals out of control. But where did it go wrong?
The Exco
Directed by: Emmanuel Chidiebere Nwosu
Produced by: Emmanuel Chidiebere Nwosu
Genre: Political Drama/Thriller
Released on: October 17, 2025 (Cinema)
Language: English/Yoruba
A Convoluted Story Choice
The Exco highlights themes of corruption, power tussle, integrity, and the woes of governance. The film follows a linear storytelling pattern, which makes it easy to follow. It centers on Bode Santos (Deyemi Okanlawon), the newly elected governor of Adun State, and his executive council as they navigate the treacherous realities of leadership.
The Exco board includes the Deputy Governor, Baba Seun; Hon. Coker (Olarotimi Fakunle); Hon. Badmus (Jide Kosoko); Hon. Kosoko (Femi Branch); Funmi Oduwole (Bimbo Akintola); and Hon. Seun (Omololu Sodiya). Each of them becomes entangled in a controversial road construction bid — a test of personal ethics and political allegiance.
While Hon. Seun wants to act in the interest of the people, Funmi struggles with an abusive husband pressuring her to vote in favour of his ally. The rest of the board members, already compromised by bribes, are more concerned with self-gain than public service. Things take a twist when Governor Santos unexpectedly awards the contract to an unlisted bidder, acting on what he believes to be a spiritual revelation from his wife — unaware that she has manipulated the outcome for her own business interest.
Struggling Sub-Plots
Despite its promising premise, The Exco struggles to build a cohesive narrative. The film often feels like a prolonged introduction rather than a full-fledged story. While it attempts to explore the private lives of each board member, the numerous subplots compete for attention, diluting the overall impact.
For instance, the subplot surrounding Funmi’s domestic abuse starts strong but ends abruptly without resolution or meaningful commentary. Similarly, the supernatural elements — like Hon. Seun being hypnotised by a charmed spray — appear suddenly and vanish without consequence. These inconsistencies make the story feel disorganised and uneven, leaving the audience unsure of what the central conflict truly is.
Bare Minimum performance
The performances suffer largely because of the weak script and uneven direction. Deyemi Okanlawon stands out as Governor Santos, embodying a believable mix of charisma and moral conflict. His chemistry with Scarlet Gomez, who plays his manipulative wife, adds some emotional depth.
However, most of the supporting cast feel underutilised. Bimbo Akintola’s talent is wasted on a storyline that never truly develops, while veterans like Jide Kosoko and Femi Branch seem constrained by shallow character arcs.
Overly Flogged AI Usage
Technically, The Exco offers little innovation. The cinematography, sound, and editing are functional but uninspired. The film sticks to conventional mid-shots and wide frames without visual flair.
A particular low point comes in a scene where the filmmakers use AI-generated special effects to simulate a cheering crowd. Rather than enhancing the experience, it becomes distracting — the digital crowd is noticeably artificial, creating a visual lag that disrupts the film’s flow.
Final Thoughts
By the time the end credits rolled, The Exco will leave you more confused than fulfilled. It feels like a film that never fully decides what story it wants to tell — part political satire, part spiritual thriller, and part domestic drama. Unfortunately, none of these threads find satisfying resolution.
The only moments of levity come from Olarotimi Fakunle’s character, whose comic reluctance to be intimate with his wife on his prophetess’s orders provides rare laughter amid the confusion. Beyond that, The Exco falls short of its cinematic potential — a film that starts with promise but ends as a muddled collection of ideas searching for direction.
Verdict
The Exco aims at showing the realities of governance in a society like ours, but it stumbles along the way. An unsatisfying experience.
Rating : 1.2/5
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