Political economist and public affairs commentator, Professor Pat Utomi, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to engage directly with Nigerians and debate other presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 general election.
Utomi made the call during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday, October 15, 2026, urging the President to visit state capitals and rural communities to interact with citizens.
“If the president cares about the Nigerian people, he should stand in every state capital, go to some rural areas, pump hands with the people. That’s how we know democracy works. He should stand side by side with the major contestants for that same office and debate,” Utomi said.
He argued that presidential candidates should be willing to face one another in public discussions and explain their policies to voters seeking to make informed decisions about the country’s future.
Utomi also said candidates seeking the same office should be prepared to defend their positions openly rather than avoid direct engagement with their opponents.
According to him, political debates give citizens an opportunity to compare candidates’ ideas, understand their proposed solutions and assess their approach to national challenges.
During the interview, Utomi referred to South Korea as an example of how public debates can contribute to democratic development.
He recalled that South Korean electoral officials had previously advised their Nigerian counterparts on the importance of holding debates across different platforms, including television, school halls and public spaces.
The professor expressed concern about what he described as a decline in democratic standards in Nigeria, arguing that leaders should be accountable to the people they seek to represent.
His comments come as political activities begin to build ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election, with questions about candidates’ accessibility, policy proposals and willingness to participate in public debates likely to feature in discussions about the electoral process.
Utomi’s remarks also draw attention to the role of direct contact between political leaders and citizens, particularly communities outside major urban centres.
Visits to rural areas can provide candidates with opportunities to hear concerns about livelihoods, infrastructure, security, education and access to public services. Public debates, meanwhile, can offer voters a platform to compare competing proposals on these issues.
Whether President Tinubu and other presidential contenders will participate in debates during the 2027 campaign remains a matter for the candidates and organisers of such events.
Utomi’s position is that Nigerians should have opportunities to engage candidates directly and hear them explain how they intend to govern before voters make their decisions.