Pat Utomi Criticizes Nigeria's Democracy, Calls for Genuine Political Parties

Pat Utomi, a political economist, voiced his concerns about the state of democracy in Nigeria during an interview on Arise TV. According to Utomi, Nigeria lacks a functioning democracy and currently does not have any real political parties in the true sense of democratic principles.

Since the return to democracy in 1999, Utomi argues that what the country has witnessed is more of a platform for machine politics, focused on acquiring power by any means and distributing the benefits of governance. He stressed the need for genuine political parties to be established before the 2027 general elections to ensure that democracy functions properly.

Utomi emphasized, "Nigeria is not a working democracy," and urged a shift away from merely waiting for the next electoral process. He highlighted the importance of founding authentic political parties for the growth of the country, rather than a focus solely on power struggles.

To address these concerns, Utomi revealed his initiative to merge key figures from the 2023 general elections, creating a unified platform. The goal is to present a single candidate with the capability to lead and bring about positive change in 2027. Utomi's vision involves building a strong political party that aligns with certain values and ideologies, uniting individuals from different social movements and political backgrounds.