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Political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has declared that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi will contest for the presidency in 2027, but warned that he would withdraw his support if Obi accepts a vice-presidential slot.
Utomi made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. His comments came a day after Obi formally defected from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at an event in Enugu, where he described his move as the beginning of a mission to “rescue our country and set it on the path of proper socio-economic development.”
Obi, who secured about six million votes and placed third in the 2023 presidential election, has faced questions from critics and supporters alike regarding the ADC’s zoning arrangements, particularly given the presence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the same party.
Utomi, however, dismissed any suggestion that Obi might serve as a running mate.
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“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,” he said.
Utomi also advocated for age restrictions on presidential candidates, proposing a cap at 70 years. He criticised past and current administrations, arguing that the presidency had become a “retirement home” for leaders lacking the fitness to govern.
“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,” he said.
He added: “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.”
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