Lawmakers in the Kebbi State House of Assembly have come under heavy criticism following the donation of 25 vehicles to the Tinubu/Kaura 2 Terms (TKT) campaign group, which is working towards the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris in 2027.
Each of the 25 lawmakers reportedly donated an Opel Zafira 2000 model vehicle, with estimated prices ranging from N3.5 million to N6 million.
The vehicles were handed over by the Speaker of the House, Muhammad Usman-Zuru, who said the gesture was in fulfillment of a pledge made during the group’s inauguration on May 20, 2025.
Usman-Zuru described the donation as a show of commitment to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and in recognition of what he called Governor Idris’s excellent performance and President Tinubu’s support for Kebbi State.
According to him, the lawmakers’ contribution was a personal effort and not from the state’s coffers. He also commended Governor Idris for maintaining a cordial relationship with the legislature and pledged continued support for his administration.
The donation, however, sparked outrage among civil society organisations and opposition political groups in the state, who questioned the timing and source of funding.
The Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Kebbi State, Ibrahim Ngaski, described the donation as insensitive in light of the state’s economic challenges, including insecurity, poverty, and a high number of out-of-school children.
“Even if the vehicles were bought from their salaries, it’s still taxpayers’ money,”; he said, urging lawmakers to instead focus on addressing pressing needs in their constituencies.
Similarly, Abdullahi Mustapha, a member of the Coalition of Political Parties in the state, condemned the lawmakers’ action, describing it as a misplaced priority. He called on the assembly members to channel their resources towards public welfare instead of partisan politics.
Receiving the vehicles on behalf of the campaign group, the Director-General of TKT, Abdulrahman Manga, thanked the lawmakers for their support and said the vehicles would be used strictly for campaign activities.
He added that the group had so far received 70 vehicles and that all drivers had undergone road safety and defensive driving training.
