Abi and Araga became the eighth and ninth housemates to leave the Big Brother Naija: Show Ya Sef house during Live Show 7 on September 13, 2026. Their time in the house brought very different conversations to the season: Araga spoke openly about romance, friendships and his decision to remain neutral as the house split into Team Sheba and Team Tram, while Abi navigated moments of emotional intensity, confrontation and scrutiny while remaining vocal about how she experienced them.
In an exclusive post-eviction conversation, Araga explains why being the house’s “lover boy” was never part of a strategy, how he handled the divisions in the house, and why maintaining his peace was important to him. On the other hand, Abi reflects on her emotional nature, the moments she felt targeted, and her views on beauty, self-expression and finding her footing in the house.
Q: So, for Araga, did you set into the show to be called The Resident Loverboy of the season?
Araga: Honestly, no. Me as a lover boy, this is who I am. That was not a strategy. You know, you can’t keep up a game plan for a long time. There was no game plan with Araga. Araga was just real and I think I gave them my realness in the house and explicitly. So yeah, there was no strategy. Lover boy, yes, that’s it, that’s my job. I’m good at it, but that was truly Araga in the house, I’ll say that.
The house is about alliances and everything, and I think in the last week before you guys left, the house was split. It seemed like Team Sheba and Team Tram,everybody literally chose a side. For you in the house at that moment, what was that moment like for you?
Araga: For me, I was neutral because I don’t think I am the fighting person. I don’t think I’m the “let’s keep beef” type. I was just neutral. Even though I don’t connect with you, I will still speak to you. There was just no beef. So I was in the middle of everything, and it was fun because that’s just how I am naturally anywhere I am. To me, it was just what it was because I expected the unexpected. Things are going to happen in the house—fights, alliances, all those things. So for me, I like my peace, honestly. My peace is my peace, and I pray for it every time. I don’t like stress, so if you are giving me stress, I’m looking the other way and I’m walking out. So yeah, the house was divided, but I was in the middle. I was fine with it, I was having fun too with everybody. I talk to you, I talk to them too, so it was fine.
I mean, you were one of the people that we would consider level-headed in the house. How did you keep your level-headedness in a house designed for chaos?
Araga: It’s just who I am as a person because I’m actually level-headed outside the house, I’m very reserved. I really like to be by myself because I think being by myself makes me happy. If I want peace of mind, I’d rather go inside and just do my thing, think about a bunch of things that make me happy. Most times I have mood swings, and the only one that can get myself out of that mood swing is me, nobody can. So I had mood swings in the house, and most of my friends would say, “Oh, Araga, you’re not…” And yeah, they give me some space, and they understand, which is fine. So yeah, that’s who I am. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just my personality, and I’m sure a lot of people can relate as well. A reserved nigga, reserved man is mostly the fun one too, so yeah.
Question: On the other side, Abi, you were very emotional. If somebody pisses you off, you’re going to cry. What was it like being an emotional person in such a place where people were probably trying to poke that side of you?
Abi: People that have met my husband now that I’m out, they are like, “Oh, now we understand.” Even in any small thing, he’d cry. So I think it’s like just being with someone that is very emotional like me, and being in a safe space, and then going into the house where like everyone was just ready to tear you apart and bring you down and everything. I think those things were what got to me. But then when I realised that these are the kind of people they were, if you guys noticed, after I didn’t even cry as much because I was like, “Oh, you guys want to go crazy? Okay, I will show you, let’s get it.” So that’s just what it was.
Question: At some point, you said you almost felt like you were targeted. What made you feel that way?
Abi: Cause it felt like anytime I said something, there was always someone ready to counter it, ready to let me know, “No, it’s not like that,” and to say, “Oh, you said this wrong thing,” or anything like that. And then I just found myself always explaining myself. I’d start explaining then, “No, it’s not like this, no, it’s not like that.” And then after a while, I was just like, “You know what? Forget about it.” Anybody that thinks I did something- yes, I did it, and now what? You can’t beat me, so bye. So that’s what it was.
Question: I think one other talking point for people when it came to Abi was basically the fact that you were always well put together. For you, what is beauty?
Abi: I think for me, beauty, I would say is just Abi. Like when I look at myself, and I’m talking about myself right now, I want to be me. And so when I think back at a younger me, I want to say, if a younger me saw me, would she want to be me? And the answer is always yes. And I think that’s what I’m always striving for. Like I don’t really care about the latest trend or what is there, whatever. Like if I look good, and I think, “Oh, younger Abii would say this is tea,” that’s it for me. And like why wouldn’t I know how to have fun by myself? Like I’ve been doing it all my life until I met my husband, obviously. And since he’s not there, for me it’s like I’m having fun for two. And I know when I’m having fun there, he’s watching me and he’s joining me in the fun. So that’s just what I do.
As Abi and Araga’s time in the house comes to an end, the drama of Big Brother Naija: Show Ya Sef continues on DStv Channel 198, Channel 49, and DStv Stream with more twists, alliances, and unexpected turns still to come.
