Political economist and professor Pat Utomi has challenged President Bola Tinubu to defend his administration’s performance in a live presidential debate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Utomi renewed the call in a Facebook post on Friday, insisting that the president should be willing to defend his record publicly if he believes his government has performed well.
“If Tinubu believes his government has performed well, let him defend his record in a live presidential debate,” he said.
The challenge follows Utomi’s earlier criticism of the president’s approach to engaging opposition candidates and voters ahead of the next general election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time last week, the political economist argued that presidential candidates should engage directly with their opponents on policies and their plans for the country.
“If you cannot stand side by side with somebody contesting for the same position and engage in policy discussions, then you are being totally dishonest to the people you are offering to serve,” Utomi said.
He also urged Tinubu to visit state capitals and rural communities across the country to interact directly with Nigerians.
According to him, presidential debates provide voters with an opportunity to assess candidates’ policies, compare their positions and make informed decisions at the polls.
“The president should stand side by side with major contenders and debate. That is how democracy works,” he added.
Utomi cited South Korea as an example of a country where public debates across television, educational institutions and other public spaces contributed to democratic development.
He recalled that South Korean electoral officials had previously advised their Nigerian counterparts on the importance of debates during an engagement involving former Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, Attahiru Jega.
The professor also expressed concern about what he described as the deterioration of Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that political leaders should be subjected to greater public scrutiny rather than shielded from accountability.
The renewed challenge comes amid preparations by political parties for the 2027 general election and discussions surrounding Tinubu’s campaign strategy.
During the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council in Abuja, Tinubu reportedly said he would not visit every state during the campaign, indicating that his planned campaign appearances would be limited to 12 states.
The president is seeking re-election after winning the 2023 presidential election. He did not participate in a presidential debate during that election cycle.
Utomi’s demand adds to the debate over whether presidential candidates should be required to participate in televised encounters to explain their policies, defend their records and respond directly to questions from opponents and voters.
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