Professor of Political Economy Pat Utomi has warned that attempts to rig Nigeria’s 2027 general elections could trigger a serious national crisis. He said growing public concerns about electoral malpractice must be addressed to prevent possible consequences.
Pat Utomi made the remarks in a post on his X handle on Sunday, recounting an informal gathering in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he attended a lunch to which Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi was invited. According to him, discussions shifted to Nigeria’s political challenges, with participants expressing concern over public officials allegedly projecting the 2027 election results as already decided.
The economist said many attendees wanted to know how they could help prevent electoral fraud. He warned that attempts to override the will of voters could have severe consequences, suggesting that the determination to resist election malpractice could lead to civil conflict if the electoral process were undermined.
