Pat Utomi, professor of political economy, says Peter Obi would have been “trapped” if he had remained in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking on Prime Time on Arise Television on Monday, Utomi said recent developments in the ADC vindicated Obi’s decision to leave the party for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“It seems to be a benefit of hindsight, and if he didn’t move, he would have been trapped,” Utomi said.
“Given what we’ve seen that just happened in the ADC with Rotimi Amaechi complaining, it was almost like a foregone conclusion that it would go in a particular direction.”
The economist described Obi’s exit from the ADC as a smart political decision.
“So it was a pretty smart move on his part,” he said.
Utomi said opinion polls had suggested that Obi would have performed strongly in a transparent primary election.
“We had polling that suggested he would defeat the other candidates within ADC,” he said.
“But the problem was not so much whether, if you had proper direct primaries, what the poll suggested would happen.”
ADC MIGHT COMPROMISE PROCESS
He questioned whether key stakeholders within political parties would permit a genuinely competitive process.
“The issue was whether the main players would allow a proper process,” he said.
Utomi also criticised the conduct of party primaries across the political spectrum, describing them as lacking credibility.
“Let’s be very frank, let’s be honest. The way the process has been managed generally across the board makes all the primary processes a complete farce,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter what party. They are all a farce of sorts.”
According to him, party leaders and political power brokers often determine outcomes before voting takes place.
“Party apparatchiks and bosses more or less impose people,” he said.
“So they go through these processes as make-believe democratic exercises. It’s not going to help Nigerian politics.”
When reminded that the same criticism could be applied to the NDC, Utomi said his comments were not directed at any particular party.
“Well, you could make the same argument for the NDC,” the interviewer said.
“That’s the point. I’m not discrediting the NDC,” Utomi replied.
