The ongoing Nigerian Idol reality show got fiercer during the wild card round to determine the last set of three finalists that will make it to the finals.

With eight contestants already handpicked by the judges from the top 30 contestants to take another chance at the Nigerian Idol Top 12, Bimi Adegoke opted out of the competition for personal reasons, leaving the wild card contestants as seven.

“It didn’t feel like a wild card performance to me at all. The way the contestants sang, their emotions, performances and everything about the show felt like I was watching the grand finale. Really, Nigeria has an incredible amount of talent and Nigerian Idol appears to have collected the best of them all”, said judge Jeffrey Daniels.

The show kicked off with Moses ‘The Teddy Bear’ whose performance of Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black’ was flawless and full of character.

Thereafter, Okey Jazz was next with a rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Breakaway.’

The soft-spoken Dani Angus was next and he brought the house down with Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together.’

Modele Fatoki’s performance of Whitney Houston’s ‘All the Man I Need’, may have put her in the danger zone, as the judges felt it was lacking and led to an impromptu duet with judge, Yinka Davies.

Things picked up with Michael Adedeji, and he continued the show with his strong rendition of
Trey song’s ‘Can’t be friends.’

The small but vocally dexterous Oweck left the judges standing with his performance of Christopher Cross’s ‘Sailing’.

“You are so small, yet you deliver so mightily. I wonder where all the power and emotion comes from,” said Yinka Davies.

Abisiakan ended the performances  with Faith Evan’s ‘Never let you go.’

The wild card allows three winners into the Nigerian Idol finals. The contestant with the highest number of votes will be the first to get into the final stages of the competition while the judges will select two other contestants for the final stage.

“The real contest begins on February 16, where the top 12 contestants will be unveiled. A team comprising of a music director, voice coach, stylist and others will work together to craft the Nigerian Idol who can stand on his or her own amongst other Idol alumni worldwide,” said the Project Manager, Ope
Odugbemi.

So, which contestant will be brought back by Nigerians, who will the judges bring back, and which three will join Debbie Rise, Safeeyat, Vicci, Kome, Immaculate Victoria, Job Emmal, Amarachi, Jay feel and Efezino?

The top prize for this season is worth $100,000 (N15 million), and will see the lucky winner cart away N7.5 million in cash, a recording contract also worth N7.5 million, and a brand new SUV.

Runner-ups will not  be left out as they will be given prizes to the tune of N10 million.