- A viral video showing Alhaja Ero Arike distributing rice to residents in Osun State and urging them to support APC candidate AMBO has triggered debate online.
- While some viewers criticised the gesture as election inducement and a reflection of poverty, others argued that the beneficiaries would at least have food to eat.
A video showing a woman distributing bags of rice to residents in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
The woman, identified as popular businesswoman Alhaja Ero Arike, also known as Falilat Arike, was seen distributing the food items to residents who queued around a vehicle loaded with rice.
In the viral video, Arike reportedly told beneficiaries that Governor Oyebanji sent her and urged them to vote for the APC governorship candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, in the election.
Some of those waiting to collect the rice were seen wearing APC-branded caps and outfits.
The video has generated criticism online, with some Nigerians describing the distribution as an indication of the level of economic hardship in the country and accusing politicians of exploiting poverty during elections.
@harbyhorlar2: “The poverty rate in Nigeria is alarming. See modern day slavery. I wept for Nigeria”
@IkandeJr: “Una mothers don start later una go begin blame apc And na una mothers dey cause am”
@AnirehDivine: “What is wrong with Nigerians? Didn’t we learn anything from the last election”
@mohalisi: “If the votes are as tasty as that rice, the ballot box will be full.”
@boy4dodo: “just Imagine she dey even dey curse join on top 2k rice?”
@Dazzlertc: “Imagine selling your future for rice, who really do us this thing for this country?”
@omah_Okafor: “Hunger will be the bait to rig this election and it’s sad to witness”
@layomiade_LA: “Awww this is sweet, come see una mothers oh, this is too much for the next 4 years oh”
@lacemose: “Atleast she has done her own part…some people will see rice to eat for two days”
