The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the distribution of luxury Toyota Prado sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to selected party youth leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The opposition party estimated the cost of seven brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs displayed in a video by the APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, at N1.015 billion, accusing the ruling party of prioritising politicians' luxury over the welfare of Nigerians grappling with economic hardship.

Israel had announced the presentation of the vehicles to selected youth leaders to support their mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

Reacting in a post on its official X account on Sunday, the NDC said the estimated cost of the vehicles raised questions about the spending priorities of the ruling party amid the economic difficulties facing the country.

“The average cost of a brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado is N145,000,000. In this video, we counted seven such vehicles, and the number could be even higher,” the party said.

“The total cost of these seven vehicles alone amounts to N1,015,000,000.”

The NDC accused the Tinubu administration of asking Nigerians to endure the effects of its economic reforms while political leaders allegedly continued to enjoy expensive benefits.

“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 that the APC-led administration was funding what it described as the lavish lifestyles of politicians while ordinary Nigerians struggled with poverty.

The opposition party subsequently urged Nigerians to vote the ruling party out of power in the 2027 general elections, describing the move as a civic responsibility to the country and future generations.

“We cannot continue like this. We owe Nigerians and the unborn generation the civic duty to vote the ruinous administration of President Bola Tinubu out of power,” the NDC stated.

The party also used the controversy to promote its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, promising that an NDC-led administration would reduce the cost of governance and ensure more prudent management of public resources.

“Our presidential candidate is strongly committed to cutting the cost of governance,” the party said, urging Nigerians to support Obi for what it described as “a new and working Nigeria for all, and not for a corrupt few”.

In announcing the distribution, Israel said the vehicles were intended to facilitate election mobilisation among selected youth leaders.

He also expressed appreciation to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her continued support for the party's structure under his leadership.

He declared that the APC would intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections, saying the party would deliver votes “polling unit by polling unit”.

However, the NDC's estimate was based on its assessment of the average market price of the vehicles and its count of seven SUVs in the video.

The actual purchase price, source of funding and identities of those who financed the vehicles were not established in the report.