Nigeria’s political space has been thrown into renewed debate following a blunt and uncompromising declaration by renowned political economist and public intellectual, Professor Pat Utomi, who has warned that he would immediately withdraw his support for Mr. Peter Obi if the former Anambra State governor accepts a vice-presidential slot in the 2027 general election. Utomi’s remarks, delivered during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, have added a new layer of intensity to ongoing conversations about political alignments, generational leadership, zoning, and the future direction of opposition politics in Nigeria.
DDM NEWS reports that Utomi’s statement comes barely days after Peter Obi formally announced his defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move that has continued to spark widespread reactions across political, civic, and intellectual circles. While Obi has framed his decision as part of a broader mission to “rescue Nigeria and set it on the path of proper socio-economic development,” questions have persisted about the strategic implications of the move, especially with the ADC also playing host to other heavyweight political figures.
Obi’s ADC Defection and the Political Shockwaves
Peter Obi’s defection, announced in Enugu on Wednesday, marked a significant turning point in the post-2023 election political realignment. Obi, who finished third in the last presidential contest with approximately six million votes, remains one of the most influential opposition figures in Nigeria, particularly among young voters and reform-minded citizens.
At the defection event, Obi told supporters that joining the ADC was not merely a change of party but the beginning of a renewed journey toward national transformation. According to him, Nigeria’s persistent challenges—ranging from economic decline and insecurity to governance deficits—require bold decisions and new political structures capable of driving reform.
However, DDM NEWS gathered that not everyone has embraced the move with enthusiasm. Critics have questioned whether the ADC can provide a cohesive platform for Obi’s ambitions, particularly given concerns about internal zoning arrangements and the presence of other presidential hopefuls, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. These concerns have fueled speculation that Obi could be pressured into accepting a vice-presidential role as part of a broader opposition coalition.
Utomi Draws a Red Line
It was against this backdrop that Prof. Pat Utomi delivered what many now describe as one of the clearest and most forceful interventions yet on Obi’s political future. Speaking on Politics Today, Utomi categorically dismissed any suggestion that Obi might run as a vice-presidential candidate in 2027.
“I can tell you that Peter Obi will contest for the presidency,” Utomi declared. “The day he becomes somebody’s vice president, I walk away from his corner. I can tell you that for a fact.”
DDM NEWS notes that Utomi’s choice of words was deliberate and emphatic, leaving little room for ambiguity. For Utomi, Obi’s political relevance and moral authority, built over years and crystallised during the 2023 elections, would be fundamentally undermined if he settled for a subordinate role on a presidential ticket.
Political analysts interpret Utomi’s position as reflective of a broader sentiment among a segment of Obi’s support base, particularly those who see him as the face of a generational and ideological shift rather than a bargaining chip in elite power negotiations.
Age, Leadership, and the “Retirement Home” Argument
Beyond Obi’s potential candidacy, Utomi used the platform to launch a scathing critique of Nigeria’s political leadership culture, particularly as it relates to age and fitness for office. DDM NEWS reports that the economist argued strongly for the introduction of age limits for executive positions, proposing a maximum age of 70 for presidential and gubernatorial candidates.
According to Utomi, Nigeria’s presidency has increasingly become a “retirement home” for elderly politicians who lack the physical stamina, mental agility, and innovative thinking required to govern a complex and rapidly changing nation.
“Something important about this election to bear in mind is that the Nigerian presidency has become a retirement home where people go for the Nigerian state to pay their medical bills,” Utomi said. “It is not acceptable.”
He went further to criticise both former President Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent President Bola Tinubu, describing their administrations as examples of what he termed “government-in-absentia leadership.” While stopping short of personal attacks, Utomi’s comments reflected a deep frustration with what he sees as systemic leadership failure rooted in age, health, and detachment from everyday realities.
“They don’t have the fitness to run the country,” he stated, underscoring his belief that effective leadership requires not just experience but also physical presence, energy, and responsiveness.
A Call for Generational Reset
DDM NEWS analysis indicates that Utomi’s intervention taps into a growing national conversation about generational change in leadership. With over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, demands for younger, more dynamic leaders have intensified, particularly since the #EndSARS movement and the political mobilisation witnessed during the 2023 elections.
By insisting on age limits and rejecting the idea of Obi as a vice-presidential candidate, Utomi appears to be advocating for a clean break from what he views as recycled leadership models. In his words, executive offices should not be treated as ceremonial positions or rewards for long political careers, but as demanding roles requiring peak performance.
“I, Pat Utomi, am insisting that I will canvass to the Nigerian people that nobody over the age of 70 should run for an executive position, whether it be governor or president,” he concluded.
Mixed Reactions and Political Implications
Utomi’s comments have generated mixed reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape. Supporters have praised his candour, describing him as one of the few public figures willing to articulate uncomfortable truths about leadership, age, and political compromise. For them, his warning serves as a necessary reminder that political reform cannot succeed if old habits and power structures remain intact.
Critics, however, argue that Utomi’s stance risks narrowing the field of political negotiation at a time when opposition unity may be crucial. Some believe that insisting Obi must only run for president, regardless of political realities, could weaken broader coalition efforts aimed at challenging the ruling party in 2027.
DDM NEWS gathered that within ADC circles, discussions are ongoing about how to manage competing ambitions and expectations without fracturing the party. Obi himself has not publicly responded to Utomi’s remarks, maintaining a cautious silence as speculation continues.
The Road to 2027
As the 2027 election approaches, it is increasingly clear that Nigeria’s political contest will be shaped not just by party defections and alliances, but by deeper questions about leadership values, generational equity, and the meaning of political sacrifice.
Pat Utomi’s declaration has effectively drawn a line in the sand, signalling that for some stakeholders, compromise has limits. Whether Peter Obi ultimately heeds this warning—or charts a different course—remains to be seen.
