Politics of “Idip Udia” (Food Politics) and Electoral Behaviour in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This research examined the politics of Idip Udia and electoral behaviour in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, with emphasis on unemployment, illiteracy and poverty as determinants of inducement politics and transactional voting behaviour. The prevalence of food politics in electoral campaigns and the limited scholarly attention given to the indigenous dimensions of vote buying in Akwa Ibom State spurred this research. Qualitative phenomenological research design was adopted, and complemented with elements of narrative inquiry. Data were generated through in-depth interviews with twenty-seven participants selected purposively from Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Oron Local Government Areas, alongside six key informant interviews involving community leaders, civil society representatives and political party officials. Findings revealed that unemployment increases participation in Idip Udia because unemployed persons have both the time and economic need to attend political rallies and food distribution events; illiteracy limits access to political information and encourages dependence on observable material gestures such as food distribution as indicators of candidate eligibility; poverty is a major factor compelling voters to exchange electoral support for immediate material survival; and many voters participate in food politics as a temporary means of accessing political elites and demanding short-term accountability during election periods. The research concluded that Idip Udia persists because unemployment, illiteracy and poverty operate synergistically to sustain clientelistic political relationships. It was recommended that public works programmes, audio-based civic education, unconditional cash transfers and community-level campaigns against inducement politics be adopted as measures for strengthening democratic accountability and promoting issue-based electoral participation in Akwa Ibom State.