Deputy Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Manifesto and Policy Committee, Professor Pat Utomi, has warned that those in power across Africa are undermining the full practice of democracy, a situation he says is weakening public trust and eroding confidence in democratic governance.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Utomi argued that while Africans continue to strongly support democracy, those who attain political office often prevent it from functioning as intended.
“The consistent outcome of this longitudinal data is that African people want democracy, but the people getting into power in Africa are preventing democracy from really taking place, and the people are losing hope in democracy. We must save our country from that,” he said.
On legal and internal party disputes within the ADC, Utomi maintained that court rulings against the party’s leadership would not affect the outcome of its national convention.
“To be honest, it won’t make any difference in so many ways. First of all, the rules, the way they are set up, anybody who understands the Constitution and all of that, INEC really has no right, if it is given the due notice, to interfere,” he said.
He added that even where electoral authorities opt not to participate in internal party processes, such absence does not invalidate decisions made within the party structure.
“They can choose not to show up, but it doesn’t affect what happens ‘in the family.’ It has the obligation, the duty, to put on that ballot box the people that come forward out of this kind of leadership, and the collective commitment is what really matters at the end of the day,” he added.
Utomi also suggested that internal crises in political parties are often influenced by external forces, warning that a lack of political discipline makes parties vulnerable to manipulation.
“First and foremost, as with the Labour Party, PDP, and now with the ADC, some unseen hands or probably quite seen, but not trying to be who they are, are trying to disrupt these parties,” he said.
According to him, political parties often contain individuals who can be used to create instability if proper internal culture is not maintained.
“In all political parties, you’re going to have the good, the bad, and the ugly, people who are just scoundrels who drift in and are willing tools.
”So, if there is a determined effort from outside, it is easy to find those willing tools and use them to cause irritations within the system,” he warned.
On public sentiment, Utomi said Nigerians are increasingly dissatisfied with current conditions and are demanding change.
“The purpose of government is the well-being of the people. Nigerian people are at the very worst they’ve ever been, and so they want something to replace what is there now. There is no question about that,” he said.
He further argued that the ADC is not facing a collapse despite internal disagreements, insisting that such challenges are strengthening the party rather than weakening it.
“There’s no crisis that can lead to collapse. In fact, these so-called tests are strengthening the party,” he said.
According to him, internal debates are forcing political actors to prioritise collective interest over personal ambition.
“You’re getting these so-called ‘big men’ to begin to rein in their egos because what is at stake is much, much larger,” he added.
On leadership selection within the ADC, Utomi dismissed the idea of a single dominant figure, describing the party’s structure as deliberately collective.
“We need to have a very broad field… it’s a process. People think that this ADC just jumped from the sky. No, I have been attending meetings that have taken place in Europe, in Africa… building up to what you see today,” he said.
He added that the party’s foundation was built on shared leadership principles rather than a “strongman” model.
“We’re not going to have a ‘boss’ of government, this ‘strongman president.’ No, it’s going to be collective responsibility,” he said.
Utomi also expressed confidence that internal disagreements would not lead to a major split, noting that while some individuals may leave, many remain committed to the party’s broader vision.
“We’re going to do our damnedest best to make sure that doesn’t happen, but if some people, driven by their egos, choose to walk away… you can’t stop that,” he said.
He further stated that the ADC was prepared for immediate political engagement, describing its policy framework as already developed and active.
“I can assure you that the ADC is ready for right now, not even 2027,” he said.
The professor said the party’s agenda focused on job creation, security, education reform, and youth empowerment.
“It’s about jobs, jobs, jobs, ensuring inclusion and balanced development is central,” he said.
On Nigeria’s economy, Utomi argued that stabilization policies alone cannot guarantee growth, warning that past approaches have failed to deliver meaningful development.
“They don’t understand the problem, high economic growth doesn’t just happen,” he said.
He added that economic stabilization often benefits only a small elite group unless broader production-driven reforms are implemented.
Utomi said the ADC’s manifesto is based on production-led growth, supported by technocratic policy design aimed at practical implementation.
“We can actually get a system that works translating all these great ideas into implementable policies that lead to rapid growth,” he said, citing global development examples to support his argument.
