Last Sunday’s episode of Nigerian Idol wasn’t just exciting for the contestants, the judges got in on the action too. With the competition nearing its end, the producers decided to keep things interesting with a special challenge for the judges.  Instead of the usual routine, the judges were tasked with picking songs they thought would be perfect for specific contestants. The contestants then got to choose their favourites, and the judge with the most picks would be crowned the champion.It was a fun competition, as we got to see how well the judges knew the contestants. Ric Hassani took the lead early when Chioma, the first contestant to perform, delivered a powerful rendition of J’odie’s “Kuchi Kuchi,” a song Ric Hassani had chosen for her. 9ice wasn’t far behind, with Lammy picking his choice, the classic “African Queen,” by 2face. Leaving Omawumi behind. Mira Clear then evened the score for Omawumi by selecting her pick, “If You Ask Me,” by the queen Omawumi herself.With the competition tied, all eyes were on Chima. His selection of “Not the Girl” by Darey Art Alade sealed the deal for Ric Hassani, making him the winner of the judges’ challenge.  As the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Winning the judges’ challenge meant Ric Hassani made a tough decision, saving one contestant from elimination.  The tension was high as each contestant was joined by a family member on stage. Chima and Lammy received the most votes, securing their spots in the finals. Unfortunately, this left Mira Clear and Chioma in the bottom two. Ric Hassani used his power as the winning judge to save Chioma, giving her a chance to compete in the finale. Making it the end of the journey for Mira Clear.  The final three contestants returned to the stage for their second performance, this time accompanied by 121 Selah beautiful choir. Chima delivered a stunning rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “As,” while Lammy wowed the judges with his performance of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. Chioma closed the night with a powerful performance of Jennifer Hudson’s “One Night Only.” The season coming to an end leaves a bittersweet feeling. Bitter in the sense that with the season ending, well miss our fave host, judges, and contestants, and sweet in the sense that one of our fave contestants will be crowned the next Nigerian Idol Star. The voting channels are now open, so make sure to vote for your winner. You can access 100 votes on the Africa Magic website and another 100 votes on the mobile site to vote for your favourite contestant. africamagic.tv/nigerianIdol You can also get as many as 2500 votes on the MyDStv or MyGOtv apps. Voting ends on Friday at 9 p.m. If you missed the last episode or any previous ones, you can download the DStv or GOtv Stream app to catch up. You can also tune in to Africa Magic Showcase (DStv ch. 151 and GOtv ch. 12) and Africa Magic Family (DStv ch. 154 and GOtv ch. 7) at 7 p.m. this Sunday to watch the live show and cheer on your faves. To subscribe, reconnect, or upgrade your package. Dial *288# and stay connected to enjoy.  The post Nigerian Idol’s S9 Top 3 Emerges: Judges’ Picks and Unforgettable Performances Shine Bright appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.