Political economist Pat Utomi warned that forcing a result in Nigeria’s 2027 election against voters’ wishes could lead to civil war, after a Manchester gathering raised questions about election integrity.
In an Oct. 18 post on X, Utomi described a lunch in Manchester, United Kingdom, that became a discussion of Nigeria’s vote. He said attendees asked how they could help stop electoral malpractice.
Utomi said the group was troubled by what it perceived as premature confidence among public officials about the outcome. He linked the possibility of civil war to efforts by those in power to override the electorate, making his warning conditional on such interference.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had been invited to the lunch, Utomi said. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lists Obi as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
INEC’s calendar sets the presidential and National Assembly elections for Jan. 16, 2027.
