Political economist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Professor Pat Utomi, has asserted that he is more qualified than President Bola Tinubu and other leading opposition figures to lead Nigeria in the 2027 general election.

Speaking on Sunday during an appearance on Politics Today, Utomi reflected on his political journey, coalition-building efforts, and what he described as Nigeria’s deepening democratic and governance crisis.

“Has it ever occurred to you that I am more prepared than all of them — Atiku, Obi, including Bola Tinubu? I have never left the ADC since 2007,” he stated.

Utomi recalled the party’s early attempts at forging coalitions after the 2007 elections, which brought together individuals who now occupy different political camps, including the ruling APC.

“We went around trying to bring people together. At one point, our coalition efforts included Tinubu and most of today’s ADC members — the good, the bad, and the ugly,” he said, adding that genuine national progress requires inclusive political engagement rather than exclusion.

The ADC chieftain also dismissed the notion that defections of state governors to the APC would guarantee victories in 2027. “Check how many APC governors actually won their states in the last election. Very few. Assuming that defections automatically translate to wins is mistaken,” he said.

Warning against attempts to manipulate the electoral process, Utomi said, “Tomahawk missiles will end up in the backyards of some people. Nigeria cannot continue on this path.”

He also recounted a 2007 meeting with former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, who questioned the credibility of Nigeria’s elections. “The world has long known that elections don’t truly take place in Nigeria. We must be careful,” he said.

Utomi’s remarks come amid internal debates within the ADC and the broader opposition coalition over the 2027 presidential ticket. Two weeks ago, fellow ADC chieftain Dele Momodu publicly criticised Utomi’s earlier stance on former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi’s potential role in the opposition coalition.

“Anyone insisting that Obi cannot run with anyone is not a democrat. Nigerian politics requires strategic realism, not rigid idealism,” Momodu said.