Professor Pat Utomi has questioned the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) spending priorities after the party’s National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, showcased brand-new Toyota Prado SUVs reportedly presented to selected youth leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Utomi, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said the expenditure raised concerns about the treatment of Nigerian soldiers and the government’s repeated claims of limited financial resources.
In a post on X on Sunday, the professor contrasted the luxury vehicles with what he described as the poor salaries of military personnel.
“Nigerian soldiers are being paid peanuts as salaries, yet an APC youth leader is flaunting SUVs worth billions of naira. This is the same government that told Nigerians there was no longer money in the treasury,” he wrote.
Utomi also questioned whether the money spent on the vehicles could have been used to improve healthcare services, particularly emergency medical transportation.
“Each of the SUVs in this video costs more than ₦100 million. I wonder how many world-class ambulances the millions being spent on these vehicles could buy,” he added.
The criticism followed a video shared by Israel showing brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs, which he said were presented to selected youth leaders to support the party’s election 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 thanked First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for what he described as her continued support for the party’s structure under his leadership.
Israel said the APC would focus on grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections, adding that the party’s supremacy would be reflected in its activities during the campaign period.
The video, which has since been deleted, attracted criticism on social media, with some Nigerians questioning the timing of the vehicle distribution amid economic hardship associated with the Tinubu administration’s reforms.
The development also sparked debate about the cost of political mobilisation and the priorities of political parties as they prepare for the 2027 elections.
Utomi’s comments added to the criticism, with the NDC chieftain urging greater scrutiny of expenditure on political activities in comparison with pressing needs in security and healthcare.
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