Utomi raised the concern in a post on X on Sunday following an informal town hall discussion in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he attended a lunch to which Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), was invited.
According to the professor, the gathering unexpectedly turned into a discussion about Nigeria’s political challenges, particularly concerns that some public officials appeared confident that the outcome of the 2027 elections could be manipulated.
Utomi said the participants were deeply concerned about the state of Nigeria’s democracy and wanted to know what they could do to prevent electoral malpractice.
“I am in the middle of an accidental town hall meeting in Manchester in the UK. I came to a lunch to which Peter Obi was invited. I found food I looked forward to deferred for questions on the trouble with Nigeria,” he wrote.
He said many of the questions focused on what participants perceived as the apparent confidence of some politicians in their ability to manipulate the results of the next general elections.
“Many of the questions suggest worry about the boldness of public officials in projecting rigging with results of elections of 2027 considered in the pocket,” Utomi stated.
The professor added that the participants were eager to explore ways of resisting electoral manipulation and protecting the integrity of the voting process.
“They were energised to ask for how they could fight rigging,” he said.
Utomi warned that any attempt by those in power to undermine the will of the electorate could provoke a serious national crisis, stressing that public determination to defend electoral integrity appeared to be growing.
“The determination to do whatever will prevent election malpractice suggests we may see a civil war if power tries to muscle the will of the people this time,” he warned.
His comments come amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with electoral credibility, transparency and public confidence in the democratic process expected to remain major issues.
Utomi has been a vocal supporter of Obi’s presidential ambition in 2027. However, he has clarified that his support is specifically for the former Anambra State governor to contest the presidency, not to serve as the running mate of another presidential candidate.
In an earlier post on X, Utomi said he would withdraw his support if Obi accepted a vice-presidential position.
“Peter Obi has my support for the presidency. But my position is clear, I am not supporting the idea of Peter Obi becoming somebody else’s Vice President. The day Peter Obi accepts a Vice Presidential position, I will walk away from his corner,” he said.
Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party before subsequently aligning with the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 electoral contest.
Utomi’s warning underscores the importance of credible elections in sustaining political stability and public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions. However, his reference to a possible civil war reflects his assessment of the potential consequences of electoral manipulation, rather than an established prediction that such a conflict will occur.
