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By Dalena Reporters l January 2, 2026
YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE — On New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026, a political support group aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu carried out a food distribution exercise targeting vulnerable and impoverished residents of Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, in an event residents said was aimed at courting public goodwill ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to an eyewitness who spoke with Sahara Reporters, the Tinubu Support Group, working in collaboration with the Northern Region Support Group, organised the distribution of bags of rice, spaghetti, noodles and seasoning cubes to underprivileged families in a local community. The exercise was led by Hon. Dahiru Hammandikko, popularly known as Dan Kade Adamawa, who serves as Executive Director of Agricultural Services at the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority.
“This was done in our immediate community,” the source said, noting that the beneficiaries were among the poor and marginalised who would otherwise struggle to afford basic food staples amid rising costs of living.
The distribution reflects a broader context of economic hardship and heightened public sensitivity to food insecurity across Nigeria, where staples like rice have surged sharply in price in recent years. Many Nigerians continue to struggle with rising food costs and household insecurity even as political actors seek to harness public support through targeted social gestures.
While supporters view such outreach as a form of charitable relief for vulnerable citizens, critics often characterise these exercises as early political mobilisation ahead of elections, especially when driven by groups tied to ruling parties. The timing during the festive New Year period underscores how food distribution can become intertwined with political signalling and grassroots engagement in an environment of economic distress.