Political economist Prof. Pat Utomi has declared that he would immediately withdraw his support for former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, if the former Labour Party presidential candidate agrees to run as a vice-presidential candidate in 2027.
Prof. Utomi made the statement on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, where he expressed confidence that Obi would contest for the presidency following his formal defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday.
His remarks were a direct response to claims by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, who alleged that Obi had already accepted to run as Atiku Abubakar’s vice-presidential candidate on the ADC platform in the 2027 general election. Utomi firmly rejected the claim.
“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,” Prof. Utomi said during the programme.
During the interview, Utomi also argued for an age limit for candidates seeking executive offices in Nigeria, proposing that no one above 70 years should contest for president or governor.
He criticised what he described as the gradual transformation of the Nigerian presidency into a “retirement home,” faulting both the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the current government of President Bola Tinubu.
“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. It is not acceptable. They don’t have the fitness to run the country. The last one, and the current one, have essentially been government-in-absentia leaders.”
“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 added.
‘Rescue journey’
Peter Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election with more than six million votes, officially announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress in Enugu on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event, Obi described his move to the ADC as the start of a mission to reclaim the country from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Today is an important day; today is the last day of 2025, so we are ending this year with the hope that, in 2026, we will begin a journey to rescue our country and set it on the path of proper socio-economic development that will be unifying and inclusive,” Obi said.
He further stated, “We have all watched as those who benefited from our democracy have, over time, become accessories to destroying it—either through coercion or gangsterism against the opposition. We cannot allow this to happen; we will resist it.”
What you should know
Prof. Pat Utomi’s comments reflect growing debates over political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly surrounding Peter Obi’s future ambitions after his move to the ADC.
While speculation continues over possible alliances, Utomi insists Obi must pursue the presidency rather than a secondary role.
The remarks also revive discussions about leadership capacity, age limits for public office, and dissatisfaction with recent administrations, highlighting broader concerns about governance, political renewal, and democratic accountability in Nigeria.
