The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the distribution of brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado sports utility vehicles to selected party youth leaders for election mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The opposition party estimated that the seven vehicles displayed in a video shared by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, could cost approximately ₦1.015 billion, arguing that the reported expenditure contrasted with the economic hardship facing many Nigerians.
The controversy followed a post Israel shared on Sunday, October 25, in which he announced the presentation of the vehicles to selected youth leaders to support the party’s mobilisation activities.
“Today, I presented brand new 2026 Prado to my committed selected youth leaders to aid their election mobilisation activities,” Israel wrote.
He also expressed appreciation to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her support for the party’s structure under his leadership, adding that the APC intended to strengthen its grassroots mobilisation ahead of the next general election.
The post attracted criticism from Nigerians who questioned the cost of the vehicles and the priorities of political leaders amid rising living costs and financial difficulties affecting households across the country. Israel subsequently deleted the post.
Reacting to the development, the NDC said the average price of a brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado was ₦145 million, putting the estimated cost of the seven vehicles at more than ₦1 billion.
“The average cost of a brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado is ₦145,000,000.
“In this video, we counted seven such vehicles, and the number could be even higher. The total cost of these seven vehicles alone amounts to ₦1,015,000,000,” the party stated.
The NDC accused the APC-led administration of prioritising expensive benefits for political figures while Nigerians continued to grapple with economic hardship.
“While the rudderless, clueless, and ruinous administration of President Bola Tinubu has been asking Nigerians to endure the pains of its wicked and cruel reforms, this is how taxpayers’ money is being spent,” the party said.
It added, “The wasteful APC-led administration is funding the lavish lifestyles of politicians while ordinary Nigerians wallow in poverty. We cannot continue like this.”
The party also urged Nigerians to vote the APC out of power in the 2027 general election, presenting its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as an alternative focused on reducing the cost of governance.
“We owe Nigerians and the unborn generation the civic duty to vote the ruinous administration of President Bola Tinubu out of power,” the NDC said.
“Our presidential candidate is strongly committed to cutting the cost of governance. If you want a government that will judiciously manage the resources of our dear country, vote for His Excellency, Peter Obi, CON, for a new and working Nigeria for all, and not for a corrupt few,” it added.
Meanwhile, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has confirmed donating SUVs to the APC National Youth Wing to support grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections. She made the disclosure during a campaign strategy meeting with regional APC youth leaders led by Israel at the State House in Abuja.
However, the actual purchase price of the seven vehicles and the precise funding arrangements have not been disclosed. Although the NDC accused the ruling party of spending taxpayers’ money, the available information does not independently establish that public funds were used to acquire the SUVs.
The controversy has renewed debate over political spending, the cost of governance and the allocation of resources as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections.
