‘Nigerian treasury is not APC’s campaign purse’ — Paul Ibe questions Prado SUVs for supporters

Paul Ibe, media aide to the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the APC to explain the funding of seven brand-new Toyota Prado SUVs reportedly distributed to youth leaders for election mobilisation.

Ibe reacted on X after APC National Youth Leader Dayo Israel said he had presented the vehicles to selected youth leaders and thanked First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her support.

Israel said the vehicles would aid election mobilisation, adding that the party would “deliver polling unit by polling unit.”

Ibe demanded that the First Lady, Israel, and the APC disclose who paid for the vehicles, the source of the funds, and the beneficiaries’ identities. He also questioned whether public funds or assets were used for the distribution.

He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to examine the funding arrangements and determine whether they comply with campaign-finance laws.

“The Nigerian treasury is not the APC’s campaign purse, and the Presidency must not become the ruling party’s election-financing machinery,” Ibe said.

He added that deleting the post would not end calls for accountability, saying: “Deleting the post cannot delete the demand for accountability.”