African Democratic Congress chieftain, Dele Momodu, has told political economist Professor Pat Utomi that intellectual arguments, “big grammar” do not win elections in Nigeria, as both leaders clashed over the political future of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The criticism came after Utomi, in a recent television interview, warned that he would withdraw his support for Obi if the former Anambra State governor accepted a vice-presidential ticket in the emerging opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a response on his verified X account on Friday, Momodu insisted that anyone ruling out Obi’s role as a running mate does not believe in democratic choice.
“Anyone insisting that Obi cannot run behind anyone is definitely not a Democrat who wishes to rescue Nigeria from one man dictatorship,” Momodu stated.
While expressing admiration for Utomi, Momodu argued that Nigerian politics demands strategic realism rather than rigid idealism. “Professor Pat Utomi is one of the brightest Nigerians I love and respect,” he wrote, acknowledging their long-standing relationship. “But he seems not to have learnt from his own experience that ‘big grammar’ does not win elections.”
The veteran journalist and publisher explained that electoral victory in Nigeria is often shaped by what he described as “primordial sentiments” rather than intellectual appeal.
He pointed to the 2023 presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress as an example, noting that the party chose Bola Tinubu over the “more fascinating and cerebral” Yemi Osinbajo. “The keyword is reality,” Momodu emphasised.
He also reminded the public that Obi’s rise to national political prominence began when he was selected as running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2019—a move he credited to Atiku’s vision, despite resistance from party stakeholders at the time.
Momodu urged Obi to remain a “humble party man” within the ADC and focus on the broader goal of rescuing Nigeria, rather than being constrained by rigid expectations about his position on any potential coalition ticket.
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