Even if the vehicles were purchased from their salaries, it’s still taxpayers’ money
Civil society groups and opposition parties in Kebbi State have sharply criticised the state House of Assembly after it donated 25 Opel Zafira vehicles to the Tinubu/Kaura Two Terms (TKT) campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaker Alhaji Muhammad Usman‑Zuru, presenting the cars on behalf of the 25‑member legislature, defended the move as fulfilment of a pledge made in May, citing satisfaction with Governor Nasir Idris’s performance and President Tinubu’s support for Kebbi.
“The essence of governance is the delivery of dividends of democracy…” he asserted, while noting that each lawmaker donated a vehicle from personal funds.
The gesture, however, drew fierce backlash. Comrade Ibrahim Ngaski of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations described it as “shocking and insensitive”, given the state’s challenges of insecurity, poverty, and high out‑of‑school rates.
“Even if the vehicles were purchased from their salaries, it’s still taxpayers’ money. It should have been channelled into addressing developmental needs…” he said.
Abdullahi Mustapha of the Coalition of Political Parties added: “With the level of poverty and hardship in Kebbi, the assembly members should not be spending money on vehicles for political campaigns.”