Utomi Questions APC’s Luxury SUV Gifts Amid Economic Hardship, Soldier Welfare Concerns

Professor Pat Utomi has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the distribution of luxury sport utility vehicles to selected party youth leaders, questioning the government’s spending priorities amid economic hardship and concerns over the welfare of Nigerian soldiers.

Utomi, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), raised the concerns following a social media post by the APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, showcasing brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs reportedly presented to selected youth leaders for election mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a post on X on Sunday, Utomi expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as a contrast between the lavish display of vehicles by party officials and the comparatively poor remuneration of military personnel.

“Nigerian soldiers are being paid peanuts as salaries, yet an APC youth leader is flaunting SUVs worth billions of naira,” he wrote.

The professor also questioned the justification for the expenditure, recalling that Nigerians had been told that government resources were limited.

“At this point, they must think we are fools!” he added.

In a separate post, Utomi argued that the resources committed to the vehicles could have been channelled into critical public services, particularly healthcare.

He questioned how many well-equipped ambulances could have been purchased with the money spent on the luxury vehicles, describing the situation as unfortunate.

The controversy followed Israel’s announcement that he had presented the vehicles to selected youth leaders to support the party’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the next general election.

“Today, I presented brand new 2026 Prado to my committed selected youth leaders to aid their election mobilisation activities,” Israel wrote in the post.

He also acknowledged the support of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for the party’s structure under his leadership.

Emphasising the APC’s electoral strategy, Israel said the party intended to strengthen its grassroots presence and mobilise voters at polling-unit level.

“The party is supreme and that supremacy will show in our action in this election period — we will deliver polling unit by polling unit,” he stated.

The video, which has since been deleted, reportedly attracted criticism on social media, with some Nigerians questioning the timing of the distribution against the backdrop of rising living costs and economic pressures associated with the Tinubu administration’s reforms.

The development has renewed public debate over political spending, accountability and the prioritisation of public resources, particularly as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 general elections.