Renowned economist, political thinker, and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, has described Peter Obi’s departure from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the New Democratic Congress (NDC) as a strategic and timely move, arguing that Nigeria’s party primary processes have become a sham manipulated by powerful political interests.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s PrimeTime programme, Utomi said Obi would have been politically disadvantaged had he remained in the ADC amid what he described as widespread efforts to frustrate certain candidates from emerging on party platforms.
“With the benefit of hindsight, you can see that if he didn’t move, he would have been trapped,” Utomi said.
“The way the process has been managed generally across the board makes all the primary processes a complete farce. It doesn’t matter what party; they are all a farce of sorts, with party bosses more or less imposing people.”
Utomi, who had recently been appointed Deputy Chairman of the ADC Manifesto and Policy Committee before the party’s internal crisis triggered political realignments, revealed that he was outside the country when the decision to move to the NDC was taken.
According to him, he initially favoured remaining within the ADC to strengthen the platform from within but later realised that political forces were working behind the scenes to prevent certain candidates from appearing on the ballot.
“They had to play quick to escape being caught in the trap. And perhaps, in the benefit of hindsight, maybe they were wise,” he stated.
The former presidential candidate also clarified his current political position, noting that he had immediately reactivated his long-standing Big Tent Coalition after learning of the ADC-NDC developments.
He stressed that the coalition would maintain an independent direction regardless of any political party affiliation.
“It doesn’t matter what party at any point in time I may or may not seem to be identified with; I have a problem with most of them,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the fate of the manifesto he was helping to develop for the ADC, Utomi said the initiative had not collapsed but had instead been transferred to the Big Tent platform, which is currently working on a broader national policy framework.
According to him, the coalition intends to support and endorse competent leaders across party lines who demonstrate the capacity and commitment to implement meaningful reforms.
“Those political actors who have both the capacity, the competence, and the disposition, who are willing to walk that path, we will endorse even if they came from this party or that party as the Big Tent,” he explained.
On the continued fragmentation of opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections—with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remaining in the ADC while Obi has moved to the NDC—Utomi expressed disappointment over what he described as an unhealthy obsession with political power among Nigeria’s political elite.
“This obsession with power and public office is a disease Nigerian political actors need to be purged of, really, treated for,” he said.
“We need to bring Nigerian politicians and put them through some kind of psychiatric processing.”
He further lamented the dominance of what he called recycled politicians in Nigeria’s political space, arguing that many had failed to demonstrate fresh ideas despite decades in public life.
Utomi also clarified comments attributed to him regarding plans to transmit NDC polling unit results live and subject them to international monitoring. He explained that the proposal originated from the Big Tent Coalition and forms part of a broader strategy aimed at ensuring electoral transparency through multiple layers of independent verification.
He disclosed that religious organisations, civil society groups, and members of the Nigerian diaspora were being mobilised to photograph and upload polling unit result sheets immediately after they are signed.
As part of the initiative, Utomi said a proposed “Voter Corps” programme, supported partly by diaspora funding, would reward participants who upload verified polling unit results with a cash equivalent of $50.
“That will energise Nigerians and make them interested in this process,” he said.
Commenting on President Bola Tinubu’s administration and recent government claims of improved revenues, exchange-rate stability, and growing investor confidence, Utomi argued that the figures do not reflect the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
“Of course, they are masking a deeper crisis,” he said.
He maintained that Nigeria continues to pursue economic policies rooted in the Washington Consensus framework, which he believes has historically failed to deliver sustainable development in many developing countries.
Utomi noted that he is currently documenting his views on the subject in an upcoming book.
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