Former Big Brother Naija winner Phyna and social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) are the latest stars to clash online, in a row that has split their fans.

What happened

According to reports on Friday, 30 October 2026, the trouble began after VDM allegedly commented on a blogger's post that used an insulting term about Phyna. The post followed an Instagram Live discussion earlier in the week about the school project VDM says he funded with Burna Boy, in which Phyna had taken part alongside socialite King Mitchy. VDM's exact words have not been published.

Phyna's response

Phyna responded during another Instagram Live session on Thursday, 29 October. She rejected the insulting label and then turned on VDM personally, including making remarks about his family. She said she had mostly been listening during the earlier session while King Mitchy did most of the talking, and felt she had been dragged into the matter.

How people reacted

Fans were divided. Some said Phyna had every right to defend herself, while others criticised her for bringing VDM's mother into the dispute. Some users accused celebrities of using VDM's name to trend. VDM had not publicly responded to her comments at the time of the report.

Background

VDM is one of Nigeria's most talked-about online figures and has had public disputes with many celebrities. He is currently promoting his Ratel power stations business and has been involved in rows with businessman Blord and with Davido's camp. Phyna won the seventh season of BBNaija in 2022 and has often been in the news over her outspoken posts.

Barely 24 hours after VeryDarkMan demonstrated the performance of his Ratel power station, Blord has come out with his own claims, and Nigerians are already raising serious questions.

According to Blord, his 1,000W-rated power station can power a big refrigerator, a 128W industrial fan, a television and even a treadmill for 12 solid hours!

Wait a minute! How is that possible?

VDM tested his 1,200W-rated power station, and it lasted 5 hours and 17 minutes under the conditions of his demonstration.

Now Blord is claiming his 1,000W unit can run all those appliances for 12 hours, without showing a complete, uninterrupted test to back up the claim.

Blord, Nigerians need evidence, not just words!

However, there is something important here. A power station's watt rating tells us how much power it can deliver at once, while its battery capacity, measured in watt-hours (Wh), determines how long it can run appliances. So battery life cannot be judged from the 1,000W and 1,200W ratings alone.

Blord, show us the battery capacity, connect all those appliances and let the test run for 12 hours. No editing, no shortcuts!

VDM has shown his demonstration. Nigerians are waiting to see yours.

Do you believe Blord's 12-hour claim, or should he prove it with a proper live test?

VeryDarkMan (VDM) deserves recognition for taking a bold approach to marketing his Ratel-branded products, particularly his newly introduced power stations.

At a time when many businesses rely heavily on advertisements, celebrity endorsements and social media publicity to attract customers, VDM has chosen to demonstrate what his products can actually do.

Rather than simply telling Nigerians how powerful and reliable his gadgets are, he has taken the initiative to publicly test their capabilities, showing potential buyers how they work and what they can expect from them.

This is a commendable business approach that other Nigerian entrepreneurs should consider adopting.

One of the biggest challenges facing consumers in Nigeria today is the difficulty of telling quality products apart from those that fail to meet expectations. Many people have spent their hard-earned money on gadgets that promised excellent performance but delivered disappointment.

That is why public product demonstrations matter. By putting his Ratel power stations to the test in front of his audience, VeryDarkMan is giving prospective customers a chance to assess their performance before buying.

Of course, a demonstration alone does not guarantee long-term durability or reliability. However, it provides a useful starting point for customers who want evidence beyond advertising claims.

There is also an important business lesson here: a company that is confident in its products should be willing to show customers what those products can do.

VDM appears to understand that building a successful brand requires more than having thousands of followers or generating excitement on social media. Customers must have reasons to trust what they are buying.

His approach could also encourage healthy competition among Nigerian businesses, particularly those selling electronic gadgets, power solutions and other consumer products. If more entrepreneurs publicly demonstrated their products under realistic conditions, buyers would be better equipped to compare options and make informed decisions.

VeryDarkMan may be known mainly for his social media activism and outspoken personality, but his latest business activities show another side of him as an entrepreneur seeking a place in Nigeria's competitive consumer market.

Whether you support VDM or disagree with his activities, one thing deserves acknowledgement: his willingness to demonstrate his products publicly is a positive example of consumer-focused marketing.

The real test will be whether the products continue to meet customers' expectations after purchase. For now, credit should be given where it is due.

Big kudos to VeryDarkMan! Nigerian entrepreneurs can learn something from this approach.

What do you think? Should companies be required to demonstrate the actual performance of their products before selling them to the public?

Popular Nigerian social media activist and businessman Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has once again got Nigerians talking after demonstrating the capabilities of his newly imported Ratel Power Station.

VeryDarkMan, who recently received a 40-foot container loaded with power stations and other gadgets from China, has begun testing the products to show potential customers what they can do.

One particular demonstration has caught the attention of many people.

In the test, the smallest model, rated at 1,200 watts, powered a television, a standing fan and a refrigerator for 5 hours 17 minutes. The TV drew 74W, the fan 50W and the fridge 150W, a total of 274W when all three were running.

And remember, this is just the smallest model in the range!

For a country like Nigeria, where unreliable electricity continues to affect homes, students, artisans and small businesses, a portable power station with such capabilities could be a useful alternative during power outages.

VDM has previously explained that his target customers include students, barbers, makeup artists and other Nigerians whose daily activities depend on electricity.

However, the demonstration has also added another chapter to the ongoing social media rivalry between VeryDarkMan and businessman Blord.

While Blord has continued promoting his own gadgets through videos and online publicity, supporters of VeryDarkMan are challenging him to demonstrate the actual performance of his products in a similar way.

And this is where the argument becomes interesting. Making promotional videos is one thing, but showing customers what a product can actually do is another.

VDM appears determined to let the performance of his products speak for itself, and his supporters are already celebrating his approach.

The box shows a battery capacity of 932Wh. A runtime of 5 hours 17 minutes fits with that, because a fridge's compressor switches on and off rather than running all the time, so the average load stays below the full 274W. Actual runtime will still vary with the appliances used and how they are used.

Nevertheless, the excitement surrounding the Ratel Power Station shows how much attention VeryDarkMan's latest business venture is attracting.

From activism and philanthropy to importing products from China, VDM is gradually expanding into commercial ventures. And as his supporters would say, VeryDarkMan is whoever he says he is!

Now, the big question is this: between VeryDarkMan's Ratel Power Station and Blord's gadgets, who is actually giving Nigerians better value for their money?

Let the products do the talking!