‘I’ll walk away’ – Pat Utomi warns Peter Obi against VP deal ahead of 2027

Political economist Prof. Pat Utomi has issued a blunt warning to former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, saying he would withdraw his support if he agrees to run as a vice-presidential candidate in 2027.

Utomi spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, amid growing speculation over Obi’s political future following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Responding to claims by Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, that Obi had already agreed to serve as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate on the ADC ticket, Utomi dismissed the allegation and insisted Obi would contest for the presidency.

“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,” Utomi said.

The professor made it clear that Obi accepting a subordinate role would be a red line for him, stressing that Obi’s political momentum should be directed toward a full presidential bid.

During the interview, Utomi also renewed his call for age limits on executive offices in Nigeria, proposing that presidential and governorship candidates should not be older than 70 years.

He criticised what he described as the transformation of the Nigerian presidency into a “retirement home,” taking a swipe at both former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu.

“Something important about this election is that the Nigerian presidency has become a retirement home where people go for the Nigerian state to pay their medical bills,” he said.

Utomi described recent administrations as “government in absentia,” arguing that age and health challenges have hindered effective leadership.

“They don’t have the fitness to run the country. The last one, and the current one, have essentially been government-in-absentia leaders,” he added.

He concluded by saying he would actively campaign to persuade Nigerians to reject elderly candidates for top executive positions.

“I, Pat Utomi, am insisting that nobody over the age of 70 should run for an executive position, whether governor or president.”