Edo politician and former Labour Party governorship aspirant, Kenneth Imasuagbon, has blamed Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis for his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying he can no longer afford to distribute rice to the poor a tradition that earned him the nickname ‘Rice Man’.
Speaking on Wednesday in Benin City where he officially joined the ADC, Imasuagbon described the economic situation under the current administration as “pitiable”, lamenting that many Nigerians can no longer afford basic necessities.
“A bag of rice that sold for ₦7,500 is now over ₦100,000,” he said. “I can’t continue what I used to do for the widows and less privileged. I’m tired. Fuel is almost ₦1,000 per litre. Nigerians are tired.”
Imasuagbon, who lost the Labour Party ticket to Olumide Akpata in 2024, accused his former party of betraying public trust and abandoning the common man.
“I thought the Labour Party was the answer, but I was wrong. The ADC is now the only party that aligns with my belief in genuine change and care for the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.
He called on citizens across the country to join the ADC, which he described as the “vehicle” to rescue Nigeria.
State ADC chairman, Kennedy Odion, welcomed Imasuagbon, describing him as a man whose grassroots popularity aligns with the party’s mission to provide credible alternatives.
“We are a moving train,” he said, “and we believe more Nigerians will soon realise this is the path to a better country.”
Imasuagbon’s defection comes as public frustration mounts over food inflation, high fuel prices, and widespread poverty across the country.
