The contest for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election has intensified, following comments by political economist and party chieftain, Prof. Pat Utomi, who declared that he is better prepared to lead Nigeria than President Bola Tinubu and leading opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

Utomi made the assertion on Sunday, January 18, while speaking on Politics Today, where he reflected on his political journey, opposition coalition talks and what he described as Nigeria’s deepening democratic and governance crisis.

Speaking candidly during the interview on Channels TV, Utomi said his long-standing involvement in national and international affairs had uniquely prepared him for leadership.

“Has it ever occurred to you that I am more qualified than all of them, Atiku, Obi, including Bola Tinubu, in terms of preparation to lead Nigeria? To be totally honest, I have never left the ADC since 2007," he asked.

He stressed that his loyalty to the party and consistent engagement in reform-driven politics set him apart in the emerging 2027 race.

He stressed that his loyalty to the party and consistent engagement in reform-driven politics set him apart in the emerging 2027 race.

Utomi recalled the ADC’s early attempts at building a broad political coalition after the 2007 elections, noting that many individuals involved at the time are now scattered across different political camps, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Vanguard reported.

“We went around trying to find people to come together after the 2007 run of the ADC. At one point, that effort included both the incumbent Tinubu and most of the people in the ADC today, the good, the bad and the ugly," he said.

According to him, inclusive political engagement remains the only viable path to national progress. “If we are going to make progress, it is important to bring everybody into the house,” Utomi added.