Footage shows Oyo governorship hopeful from ADC party handing out maize to backers

A video of Taofeek Adegoke, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, distributing boiled corn to supporters by the roadside, has sparked a flurry of reactions after it went viral on Tuesday.

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In the trending video, Adegoke is seen standing beside a pot of boiled corn, personally handing it out to a crowd of supporters who have gathered around him.

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As the supporters jostled to receive the corn directly from Adegoke, they hailed him as "Mr Governor" and chanted slogans in his support, with some insisting that collecting the corn from him was a blessing.

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The video has attracted a significant amount of attention on social media, with supporters praising the ADC candidate for his humility and accessibility.

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However, others have argued that such gestures are commonplace during election campaigns, where politicians often attempt to project themselves as being close to ordinary citizens.

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Public displays of humility have become a staple of electioneering in Nigeria, with politicians frequently engaging in everyday activities such as eating at roadside food joints and riding commercial motorcycles to connect with the electorate.

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While supporters often view these actions as evidence of simplicity and empathy, critics contend that they are largely symbolic campaign strategies designed to appeal to voters.

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One user, Sam Oladayo, reacted to the video on TikTok, saying, "Very humble governor, let’s join hands to make him President of USA."

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Another user, Finiyi Samuel, commented, "Those people following him know he cannot win the election, yet they will still follow him and collect his money."

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Ayinla Kusela dismissed the gesture, writing, "Pure lie, this is an old school tactic," while Atom similarly stated, "Old style of fooling people."

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Afolayan Femi, however, stressed, "Apart from him contesting for governor, he is a good person."