Renowned political economist Professor Pat Utomi has declared that he will withdraw his backing for former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi if he accepts a vice‑presidential candidacy in the 2027 general elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that Utomi’s remarks came during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday evening, a day after Obi formally joined African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
Utomi, known for his long engagement in Nigeria’s political discourse, insisted that Obi’s ambition should remain focused on the presidency, not a subordinate ticket.
Reacting to speculations fueled in part by comments from Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, who suggested Obi might run as a vice‑presidential candidate alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the ADC platform, Utomi firmly rejected the notion.
He said, “I can tell you that Peter Obi will contest for the presidency. The day he becomes somebody’s vice president, I walk away from his corner. I can tell you that for a fact.”
According to Obi, his defection from LP to ADC in Enugu is the beginning of a renewed effort to rescue Nigeria and set it on the path of proper socio‑economic development.
However, the move has been met with skepticism and debate among supporters and critics alike, particularly given the presence of veteran politicians like Atiku Abubakar within the ADC, raising questions about zoning arrangements and leadership roles within the party.
Beyond his warning about Obi’s role in 2027, Utomi used the interview to call for structural reforms in Nigerian political leadership, arguing that the presidency and other executive offices should be restricted to candidates under the age of 70.
He lamented the alleged retirement home nature of the presidency, a reference to the advanced ages of recent leaders and what he believes is diminished capacity to effectively govern.
Utomi said, “They don’t have the fitness to run the country. The last one, and the current one, have essentially been government‑in‑absentia leaders”, urging Nigerians to support younger, more agile leaders.
The comments have sparked debates among political observers and within the ADC itself, with some party figures calling for a focus on party strengthening rather than early contention over possible tickets.
