RismadarVoice Reporters
October 26, 2026
The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dayo Israel, has faced widespread criticism after presenting brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs to selected party youth leaders ahead of the 2027 general election.
Israel announced the presentation on Sunday in a post on X, saying the vehicles were meant to support election mobilisation activities.
A video accompanying the announcement showed seven SUVs, attracting criticism from Nigerians who questioned the expenditure amid rising living costs and concerns about public services.
Israel also expressed appreciation to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her continued support for the party’s youth structure under his leadership.
However, his post did not disclose the purchase prices of the vehicles or identify who financed them.
Several social media users criticised the presentation, arguing that the resources involved could have supported healthcare, education and other public needs.
An X user, @HarmlessHQ, questioned the timing of the announcement, contrasting the distribution with President Bola Tinubu’s remarks about Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Another user, @RealAdeshina, raised concerns about the source of funding and compared the expenditure with shortages of essential medical equipment in Nigerian hospitals.
Other commentators argued that distributing expensive vehicles for political mobilisation appeared inconsistent with appeals for Nigerians to endure the effects of ongoing economic reforms.
Political economist and opposition figure Professor Pat Utomi also criticised the development, drawing comparisons between the estimated value of the SUVs and the remuneration of Nigerian military personnel.
Utomi questioned whether resources of that magnitude could instead support emergency healthcare services and other essential facilities.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) similarly condemned the presentation, estimating the value of seven vehicles at approximately ₦1.015 billion.
The opposition party based its calculation on an assumed average price of ₦145 million per SUV.
However, the estimate has not been independently verified against purchase invoices or other financial records.
Reports indicate that Israel subsequently deleted the original X post approximately three hours after publication.
Screenshots and recordings of the announcement nevertheless continued circulating online.
Israel had not publicly explained the deletion at the time of reporting.
Although he thanked the First Lady for supporting the APC youth structure, the acknowledgement does not establish that she financed the vehicles or that public funds were used.
The controversy has renewed debate about political expenditure, transparency and the priorities of party organisations as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
