Professor of Economics and Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Pat Utomi, has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not play any role in the recent summit of opposition coalition that took place in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Utomi, who spoke on Sunday, April 26, 2026 when he featured on Arise Television news programme, said that widespread assumptions about Obasanjo’s involvement were misplaced.
He pointedly said that while the former president was associated with the mega event in public perception, he did not attend nor participated directly in proceedings.
Utomi said; “President Obasanjo did not play any specific role. I talked with him, but he didn’t show up”.
Utomi’s clarification comes amid heightened attention on the Ibadan summit, where opposition figures across multiple political parties converged to discuss a unified strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Participants at the summit resolved to field a single presidential candidate capable of mounting a strong challenge to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obasanjo’s perceived presence at the Ibadan summit was initially interpreted by some political observers as a signal of elite backing for the coalition effort, but Utomi’s remarks clearly clarified that while the elder statesman may be supportive of democratic engagement in principle, he was not directly involved in shaping the opposition political leaders’ resolutions.
The development brought to the fore that the opposition alliance which is still evolving has put the Presidency and the ruling party on their toes and back to the drawing board of political calculus as key stakeholders attempt to balance symbolism, influence, and practical coordination in their bid to present a united front in 2027.
