Lawyers, political analysts differ on Utomi’s shadow govt
Legal and political experts are sharply divided over the shadow government unveiled by Professor Pat Utomi, with some hailing it as a democratic necessity in the face of a weakened opposition, while others question its constitutional grounding and long-term viability. The federal government, however, has dismissed the initiative as an aberration. Minister of Information and […]
Legal and political experts are sharply divided over the shadow government unveiled by Professor Pat Utomi, with some hailing it as a democratic necessity in the face of a weakened opposition, while others question its constitutional grounding and long-term viability.
The federal government, however, has dismissed the initiative as an aberration. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria’s presidential system does not accommodate such structures, insisting that opposition politics must remain within the bounds of propriety.
Utomi, a political economist and former presidential candidate, recently announced the formation of a “shadow government” aimed at offering alternative policy ideas and holding President Bola Tinubu’s administration to account. According to him, the decision became inevitable to save Nigeria’s democracy following the gale of defections that has hit the opposition, drifting the country into a one-party state.
Speaking in a chat with Daily Trust yesterday, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Salman Jawondo, described the move as a welcome innovation, even if novel in Nigeria’s political landscape. He argued that it aligns with democratic ideals and could fill the vacuum left by the country’s faltering opposition parties.
“This is not treasonable and does not violate any constitutional provision. It’s a legitimate political response aimed at improving governance,” said Jawondo, a former Attorney General of Kwara State. “As it is today, there’s no effective opposition in Nigeria, and this initiative may finally put the government on its toes.”
But another SAN, Dr Akin Onigbinde, offered a more cautious view. While acknowledging Utomi’s intellectual credentials, he warned against importing concepts from parliamentary systems like the Westminster model into Nigeria’s presidential democracy.
“This is a presidential system, not a parliamentary one. Shadow governments are not part of our political structure. That said, Utomi’s voice is important and should be used to constructively engage—not mirror—government,” he said.
The initiative has also drawn both support and scepticism among political scientists. While Professor Gbade Ojo defended Utomi’s move, arguing that it represents a legitimate response to a hostile political environment, Dr Mohammed Alada took a different stance, warning that Utomi’s action borders on dangerous territory.
“Utomi’s action is not criminal, and it provides an alternative avenue to speak truth to power. Unless it turns violent, there’s nothing unlawful about it,” Ojo said.
But Alada argued that forming such a structure outside a political party framework could be misconstrued as an attempt to establish an alternative government.
“This goes beyond criticism. Institutionalising a shadow government without party backing is unprecedented and potentially risky,” he said. “He should have channelled his efforts through an organised party platform, as was done during the First Republic.”
Abubakar Ibrahim, a political scientist based in Lafia, dismissed the controversy around Utomi’s move, saying it merely reflects the failures of the Tinubu administration.
“If the government had done its job—addressing hunger, insecurity, and unemployment—Utomi wouldn’t have needed to step in,” he said. “This initiative only underscores the depth of leadership failure.”
In Zaria, another political analyst, Usman Aliyu Hayatu, said Utomi is well placed to lead such an effort, given his academic and political pedigree.
“With credible names like Dele Farotimi involved, the initiative has intellectual weight. Nigeria is in a crisis, and this can be seen as an emergency response to rising hardship and insecurity,” Hayatu said.
He, however, acknowledged that sustaining the initiative would be a major challenge.