On Sunday, Dayo Israel, the National Youth Leader of the [All Progressives Congress](https://apc.com.ng/), uploaded a short video to his X account showing seven freshly delivered 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs being handed to selected party youth leaders. He said the vehicles were meant to boost mobilisation efforts for the upcoming 2027 general elections and thanked First Lady [Oluremi Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oluremi_Tinubu) for her continued support to the party structure under his leadership. Within three hours, Israel removed the post after a wave of criticism erupted on the platform.
**Key facts that emerged from the controversy**
- The seven SUVs were presented on Sunday, the same day the video was posted.
- Israel’s caption read: “Today, I presented brand new 2026 Prado to my committed selected youth leaders to aid their election mobilisation activities.”
- He added, “The party is supreme and that supremacy will show in our action in this election period – we will deliver polling unit by polling unit.”
- Social media users estimated the combined price of the vehicles could exceed ₦1 billion.
- No official explanation has been given regarding the source of funding or the exact purchase price.
What sparked the public outcry?
Critics on X highlighted the stark contrast between the lavish gift and the nation’s prevailing economic hardships. One user, @iamchibuzoree, pointed out that the government had recently claimed there was “NO MONEY” to pay striking doctors, nurses, and laboratory staff, yet suddenly found funds to acquire a convoy of high‑end SUVs. The user questioned whether the money could have been redirected to health care, food assistance, or student loans.
How did other netizens react?
Another commentator, @ogundamisi, described the episode as evidence of a widening gap between political elites and ordinary Nigerians, noting that President [Bola Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Tinubu) was urging citizens to endure further hardship. @ayshaHamman asked how many primary health‑care centres could have been built with the same amount, while @ukocarter and @harmlessHQ likened the display to Tinubu’s own remarks on the country’s economic challenges.
Why was the post deleted?
Israel erased the video after roughly three hours, but screenshots and recordings continued to circulate, keeping the story alive. He has not publicly addressed why the post was removed, nor clarified whether the SUVs were purchased with party funds, private donations, or another arrangement.
What does this mean for the APC’s election strategy?
The incident underscores growing scrutiny of how political parties allocate resources in a climate of inflation and scarcity. While the APC maintains that the vehicles are tools for grassroots mobilisation, opponents argue that such expenditures risk alienating voters already burdened by rising living costs.
**Background**: The APC, Nigeria’s ruling party, is gearing up for the 2027 elections, with President Tinubu’s administration facing criticism over economic management. The distribution of luxury vehicles to party operatives is not unprecedented, but it has become a flashpoint in a period marked by public sector wage arrears and heightened cost‑of‑living pressures.
The episode remains unresolved, with calls for transparency on the financing of the SUVs and broader debate about the appropriateness of lavish political patronage in a struggling economy.