​Political economist, civic leader, and chieftain of the opposition movement, Professor Pat Utomi, has asserted that the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to prosecute Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), reflects a complete absence of credible evidence against him.
​Speaking via a detailed public statement released on his official social media platform (X) on the morning of Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Utomi stated that the ruling political establishment considers Obi a grave threat precisely because they cannot find actionable financial or administrative wrongdoing to weaponize against him ahead of upcoming political contests.
​Utomi argued that in Nigeria’s contemporary political landscape, opposition figures with compromised records are routinely targeted, arrested, or tied down with legal suits to neutralise their political ambitions.
​”I’ve said this many times: if Peter Obi had any skeletons in his cupboard or was corrupt like many other politicians, this APC-led administration would have seized the opportunity to arrest him, lock him up, and keep him behind bars until after the election,” Utomi stated.
“They know that, no matter how hard they try, there is no credible wrongdoing they can pin on him. They cannot find the kind of dirt they are accustomed to using against politicians, and that is what makes him a major threat to their corrupt establishment.”
​Utomi further highlighted the contradiction in Nigeria’s political culture, noting that while Obi has repeatedly expressed willingness to be investigated by anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), political opponents continue to rely on media propaganda rather than formal legal charges.
​The political economist’s remarks have stirred immediate reactions across party lines. Speaking on behalf of the ruling party’s media arm in Lagos, APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe dismissed Utomi’s assertions, maintaining that the government operates strictly under the rule of law and does not engage in arbitrary arrests or political witch-hunts.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has consistently maintained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu focuses on economic governance and structural reforms rather than targeting political opponents without legal cause.
Members of Peter Obi’s campaign organisation reaffirmed Utomi’s statements, reiterating that Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State remains open to scrutiny and that the administration’s silence in court speaks louder than political commentary.
​Utomi concluded his statement by urging the Nigerian electorate to reject state-sponsored propaganda and evaluate political leaders based on verifiable integrity and performance metrics as political alignments shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
