Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church Worldwide has cautioned Nigerians against supporting politicians who distribute rice and food items during election campaigns, insisting that such gestures should not influence voting decisions.
In a recent Facebook video, the cleric argued that politicians who rely on rice distribution as a campaign strategy are often attempting to exploit hardship rather than provide genuine leadership.
According to him, food giveaways during elections should not replace meaningful development plans or policies that improve citizens’ lives.
Ayodele noted that many politicians only become visible during campaign periods, often appearing in communities with food supplies, temporary projects, and promises of better living conditions. He alleged that these actions are designed to gain sympathy from struggling voters.
“Any politician campaigning with rice shouldn’t be voted for because your life will be mortgaged for four years,” Ayodele said.
The cleric stressed that Nigerians should ask deeper questions about what political candidates have achieved before seeking re-election or another public office. He urged voters to examine the long-term record of candidates rather than be swayed by temporary gifts.
According to Ayodele, some politicians deliberately wait until election periods before beginning road construction or launching visible projects, even when they have spent years in office without addressing public needs.
He said such late interventions are often aimed at creating a favourable impression before voters go to the polls.
“Let’s see what they have offered that will make them deserve the vote. Some of them decide to start constructing roads during elections just for votes,” he said.
Ayodele maintained that true leadership should be measured by continuous service and the ability to improve lives before campaign seasons begin. He warned Nigerians not to allow poverty or hunger to influence decisions that will affect governance for years.
He further called on citizens to reject ethnic and party-based voting patterns, arguing that competence and accountability should become the main criteria for selecting leaders.
The cleric concluded by urging politicians to focus on empowering citizens, building human capacity, and creating sustainable opportunities rather than relying on food distribution to secure electoral support.
