Political economist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Prof. Pat Utomi, has declared that he is more qualified to lead Nigeria than President Bola Tinubu and other opposition figures as the 2027 elections approach.
Speaking on Politics Today on Sunday, Utomi reflected on his political journey, coalition-building efforts, and Nigeria’s worsening governance crisis. “Has it ever occurred to you that I am more qualified than all of them (Atiku, Obi), including Bola Tinubu, in terms of preparation to lead Nigeria?” he asked, stressing that he has remained loyal to the ADC since 2007.
He recalled early coalition efforts after the 2007 elections, noting that they once included Tinubu and other politicians now spread across different parties. According to him, genuine progress requires inclusive engagement: “If we are going to make progress, it is important to bring everybody into the house.”
Utomi dismissed assumptions that defections of governors into the APC would guarantee electoral victories in 2027. He argued that few APC governors actually won their states in the last election, warning against reliance on manipulation. “The logic is that maybe if so many of the governors joined, they could then cheat the way it was done in Port Harcourt… I want to tell you, it won’t be like that,” he said.
He cautioned against democratic decline and attempts to rig the people’s mandate, warning: “Tomahawk missiles will end up in the back of some people’s backyard. Nigeria cannot continue the way it has been.” Utomi also recalled a 2007 conversation with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and ex-Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, who questioned Nigeria’s electoral credibility.
His remarks come amid internal ADC debates. Recently, fellow chieftain Dele Momodu criticised Utomi’s comments about Peter Obi’s role in the opposition coalition, arguing that Utomi’s stance undermines democratic choice. Momodu insisted that Nigerian politics requires strategic realism rather than rigid idealism if the opposition hopes to unseat the APC in 2027.
