Renowned political economist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) heavyweight, Prof. Pat Utomi, has thrown a political grenade into the 2027 race, declaring boldly that he is better prepared to lead Nigeria than President Bola Tinubu and leading opposition figures.
Speaking on Politics Today on Sunday, Utomi presented himself as the most seasoned option for Nigeria’s top job, citing his long-standing political experience and commitment to reform.
“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. To be totally honest, I have never left the ADC since 2007,” Utomi said.
He traced the roots of opposition coalition talks to the aftermath of the 2007 elections, revealing that early efforts once included political actors now spread across rival parties.
“We went around trying to find people to come together. After we made the 2007 run of the ADC, and if you had listened to Ralph Nwosu on October 31, 2025, he tried to talk about this.
“I went out trying to see how we could build this coalition, and at one point in time, that effort included both the incumbent Tinubu and most of the people in the ADC today — the Good, bad and ugly,” he said.
Utomi insisted that Nigeria’s future depends on inclusive politics, not elite exclusion.
“If we are going to make progress, it is important to bring everybody into the house,” he added.
Dismissing the idea that mass defections of governors guarantee victory, Utomi warned the ruling party against electoral manipulation.
“Now, the truth of the matter is this. Check how many APC governors actually won their states in the last election. Very few. The logic is that maybe if so many of the governors joined, they could then cheat the way it was done in Port Harcourt or somewhere and therefore the victories are sure. I want to tell you, it won’t be like that,” he said.
In a chilling warning on electoral credibility, Utomi cautioned against rigging in 2027.
“Tomahawk missiles will end up in the back of some people’s backyard. Nigeria cannot continue the way it has been,” he warned.
He also recalled how global leaders once questioned Nigeria’s democratic process after the 2007 elections.
“Look, when I ran in 2007, I was at a lunch after the election with the former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Canadian Prime Minister Martin, and they said to me, ‘What do you people call what has just happened in your country?
“The world for a long time has known that elections don’t take place in Nigeria, and the country cannot continue like that. If it goes that way in 2007, there may be no Nigeria after it. So let us be careful,” he said.
