Utomi Defends Obi’s Exit from ADC, Cites Concerns Over Internal Democracy
By Rita Onuoha
E-ISSN:2354-4481
Academic and political economist, Pat Utomi, has defended former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s decision to leave the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the move as a calculated response to concerns about the party’s internal democratic processes.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, Utomi said recent developments within the ADC appeared to justify Obi’s departure, noting that emerging controversies had raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the party’s internal mechanisms.
Reflecting on the situation, Utomi stated that events within the party suggested that the outcome of certain political processes may have been largely predetermined. He said Obi’s decision to realign politically could now be viewed as a strategic move in light of subsequent developments.
Utomi disclosed that he was outside the country when Obi made the decision to leave the ADC and was not privy to the discussions that preceded the move. According to him, his initial position had been that Obi and his supporters should remain within the party and seek to influence outcomes through internal competition.
He explained that he had believed participation in the party’s structures would provide an opportunity to test political strength and challenge existing power arrangements through democratic means.
However, Utomi said he had become increasingly aware of activities within the party that, in his view, raised concerns about inclusiveness and fairness. He argued that certain practices appeared designed to limit the chances of particular aspirants from emerging through a transparent process.
The political economist further maintained that available polling data at the time indicated Obi possessed significant support that could have translated into success in an open and competitive primary election. He nevertheless observed that political outcomes are often influenced by entrenched interests and party power structures.
According to Utomi, the dominance of party elites and influential stakeholders has weakened internal democracy in many political parties, reducing primary elections to exercises that often fail to reflect the genuine preferences of party members.
Beyond the ADC controversy, Utomi used the opportunity to discuss the objectives of the Big Tent political movement, which he said is focused on developing a governance agenda and identifying credible leaders across party lines based on competence, integrity, and vision.
He explained that the initiative intends to support candidates who are committed to meaningful governance reforms, irrespective of their political affiliations, to advance national development and institutional renewal.
Utomi also expressed concern about Nigeria’s broader political culture, arguing that excessive focus on attaining public office has overshadowed the principles of service, leadership, and nation-building. He warned that such attitudes have contributed to the weakening of opposition politics and slowed national progress.
On electoral reform, he clarified that proposals advocating the live transmission of polling unit results originated from the Big Tent initiative rather than the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), as previously suggested in some reports. He noted that the proposal remains part of ongoing efforts to improve electoral transparency through independent monitoring mechanisms.
The former presidential candidate equally called for stricter regulations governing political defections, arguing that frequent movement between parties weakens accountability, erodes party ideology, and undermines democratic institutions.
Despite his criticisms of the political system, Utomi expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, maintaining that the country possesses the human and institutional capacity for renewal if credible, competent, and visionary leaders are allowed to emerge through transparent and democratic processes.
