Lawmakers in the Kebbi State House of Assembly are facing public criticism after donating 25 vehicles to the Tinubu/Kaura 2 Terms (TKT) campaign group ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Each lawmaker reportedly contributed an Opel Zafira 2000 model, valued between N3.5 million and N6 million, to support the re-election bids of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris.

The vehicles were officially presented by the Speaker of the House, Muhammad Usman-Zuru, who described the gesture as a demonstration of loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He said it also reflected the lawmakers’ appreciation for Governor Idris’s leadership and President Tinubu’s contributions to the state.

According to Usman-Zuru, the donation was personally funded by the legislators and not sourced from the state treasury. He praised Governor Idris for fostering a smooth working relationship with the assembly and pledged their continued support for his administration.

However, the donation has drawn strong backlash from civil society groups and opposition political parties. Critics have questioned both the timing and the funding source, given Kebbi State’s ongoing challenges with poverty, insecurity, and a growing population of out-of-school children.

Ibrahim Ngaski, Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Kebbi, described the donation as “insensitive,” stressing that even if funded from the lawmakers’ salaries, it still amounts to misusing taxpayers’ money. He urged the assembly members to prioritise developmental needs in their constituencies.

Abdullahi Mustapha, a member of the Coalition of Political Parties in the state, echoed similar sentiments, calling the donation a misplaced priority that highlights the assembly’s skewed focus on politics over public welfare.

Receiving the vehicles on behalf of the campaign group, the Director-General of TKT, Abdulrahman Manga, thanked the lawmakers and stated that the vehicles would be used exclusively for campaign purposes. He added that the group had now received a total of 70 vehicles, and all designated drivers had undergone safety and defensive driving training.