Professor Pat Utomi has argued that cooperation among opposition parties would be more effective than forcing presidential aspirants to step down for a single candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
Utomi, a member of the Movement for Credible Elections, said opposition parties could strengthen their chances through collaboration while allowing candidates to remain in the race.
Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, the former presidential candidate described the demand for all opposition figures to rally behind one candidate as a ‘false narrative’, arguing that opposition cooperation could take other forms, including election monitoring, vote protection and shared resources.
‘I think, in many ways, the fact that everybody must rally around one person for things to go forward is a false narrative,’ Utomi said.
He said opposition parties could compete against one another while working together to protect votes and improve the credibility of the electoral process.
Utomi described the approach as ‘co-opetition’ – a situation where political actors compete electorally while cooperating on areas of common interest.
According to him, opposition parties could jointly deploy resources such as technology, election monitors and other mechanisms to protect votes during the 2027 polls.
He also argued that a government of national unity should be built around national interest rather than political appointments or power-sharing arrangements.
Utomi said Nigeria’s political class must move beyond the pursuit of power and focus on long-term nation-building.
Reflecting on his generation’s role in the country’s development, the scholar said his generation had failed Nigerians and that younger generations had a responsibility to demand better leadership.
‘Our generation has betrayed its mission to the Nigerian people,’ he said.
On convincing presidential aspirants to prioritise collective interests over personal ambitions, Utomi said many political figures already have relationships that could make cooperation possible.
He maintained that the future of Nigeria should remain the priority as opposition parties prepare for the 2027 election.