Political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has said he will withdraw his support for Peter Obi if the former Anambra State governor accepts a vice-presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Utomi, who has publicly backed Obi’s presidential ambition, said his support was specifically for the former governor to contest for the presidency and not to serve as another candidate’s running mate.
He made the position known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid political realignments within the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Utomi, “Peter Obi will contest for the presidency. The day he becomes somebody’s vice president, I will walk away from his corner. I can tell you that for a fact.”
His comments followed Obi’s formal defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on December 31, 2025, a move that has intensified discussions over the opposition coalition’s possible presidential ticket.
Utomi said his position was driven by his conception of the kind of leadership Nigeria requires, rather than personal considerations.
He also advocated an age limit for candidates seeking executive office, proposing that presidential and governorship candidates should not be above 70 years.
Utomi argued that the presidency should not become a destination for politicians at the end of their political careers, stressing the need for leadership focused on Nigeria’s future.
He said he would canvass for a national policy that would prevent anyone above 70 from contesting for the presidency or governorship.
The political economist’s comments come as the ADC and other opposition groups continue to navigate competing ambitions and possible alliances ahead of the 2027 elections. Obi’s position within the emerging opposition coalition has remained a subject of political debate, particularly following his entry into the ADC alongside other prominent opposition figures.
Utomi’s position has also attracted responses from other ADC figures. Party chieftain Dele Momodu, for instance, argued that Obi should remain open to whatever role the party ultimately determines through its democratic processes, while another party chieftain, Ladan Salihu, called for restraint among supporters and urged them to focus on strengthening the party ahead of the elections.
The ADC is expected to resolve the competing aspirations for its 2027 presidential ticket through its internal processes as the election cycle progresses.
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