The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) has assembled a particularly rich field for its Best Supporting Actor category, highlighting the crucial role these performances play in film and series.

Supporting actors are often the architectural backbone of a story, providing depth, emotional stakes, and a believable world for the lead characters to inhabit.

Their contributions are essential, making the story feel real and often leaving a lasting impression long after the credits roll.

With the ceremony slated for May 9th, 2026, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, the eight nominations span a diverse range of talent, from breakout stars receiving their first nod to seasoned veterans returning with fresh material.

This year's selection demonstrates the vibrant landscape of African cinema and television.

Among the esteemed nominees is Sinmileoluwa Hassan for his role in "The Yard."

This series, which explores a hero's gradual descent into villainy, finds Hassan at the core of its tension, delivering a grounded and measured performance that questions loyalty and ambition.

This marks Hassan's first AMVCA nomination, a strong debut in a year where "The Yard" also garnered nominations for Best Scripted M-Net Original and Best Series Scripted.

Lateef Adedimeji enters the ceremony as the most nominated individual, achieving a historic triple nod across acting categories.

He is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for both "Gingerrr" and "Red Circle," in addition to a Best Lead Actor nomination for "Lisabi: A Legend Is Born."

While Adedimeji previously won as an executive producer for "Lisabi: The Uprising" at the 2025 AMVCA, an acting win at this ceremony would be a significant milestone in his career.

Femi Adebayo reprises his iconic role in "Agesinkole (King of Thieves) 2," where he features as a mythic force, shifting into the Supporting Actor category for this sequel.

Adebayo is a heavyweight champion in his own right, having previously won Best Lead Actor at the 2025 AMVCA for "Seven Doors."

Gabriel Afolayan, for his performance in "Colours of Fire," holds a defending champion presence in this category. Having won Best Supporting Actor at the 11th AMVCA in 2025 for "Inside Life," he returns with back-to-back nominations, affirming his consistent impact in supporting roles within fantasy epics.

Femi Branch receives a nomination for "Owambe Thieves," where he delivers a seasoned presence in a comedy rooted in new parenthood's financial pressures.

This nomination is part of a monumental year for Branch, who also secured a Best Lead Actor nod for the thriller "Red Circle," showcasing his impressive range after his first AMVCA acting nomination in 2025 for "House of Ga’a."

Bucci Franklin is recognized for his key role in "To Kill A Monkey," a series about a tech graduate's entanglement with a cybercrime syndicate. Franklin's portrayal makes the questionable choices of his character feel entirely reasonable.

While "To Kill A Monkey" found significant success on Netflix in 2025, Franklin is no stranger to the AMVCA shortlist, having been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 2022 for "Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story" and Best Actor in 2025 for "The Weekend."

Finally, Uzor Arukwe is nominated for his performance as Victor, the lawyer and closest friend to the lead in "Behind the Scenes."

This film made history as the first Nollywood production to cross the N1 billion mark in just 19 days.

Arukwe, a major contender across the board, also received a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2025 AMVCA for "Suspicion" and is concurrently nominated for Best Lead Actor this year for "Colours of Fire."