UTOMI DEMANDS JAIL TERMS FOR POLITICIANS WHO DIVERT PUBLIC FUNDS TO CAMPAIGNS

Professor Pat Utomi, a member of the Movement for Credible Elections, has called for criminal sanctions against politicians who use public resources to finance election campaigns. Utomi made the call during an interview with ARISE News while discussing Nigeria’s electoral system and the challenges facing opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. He argued that access to state resources gives parties controlling government institutions a major financial advantage during elections.

Utomi said public funds should not be used to finance political campaigns and argued that politicians who engage in such practices should face criminal consequences. He described the alleged diversion of government resources for electoral purposes as a form of criminality and said he would like to see politicians prosecuted and imprisoned for using public money to pursue political office. His comments were made in the context of his wider concerns about the relationship between political power, public resources and electoral competition in Nigeria.

The political economist also highlighted the difficulties opposition parties face when they do not control government resources. According to him, parties outside government may struggle to mobilise enough funds and personnel to effectively monitor elections across the country. He identified the deployment of polling agents as a particular challenge, noting that a party without representatives at polling units could be vulnerable to having results recorded in its absence.

Utomi, however, said opposition groups could reduce some of these challenges through greater cooperation and resource-sharing. He also urged Nigerians to become more aware of the importance of their votes and participate actively in elections. He argued that stronger voter participation could make it more difficult for attempts to undermine the electoral process to succeed, while stressing that citizens need to understand that their votes can influence political outcomes.

The political economist further advocated the use of technology to improve election monitoring and transparency. He proposed the deployment of body cameras and live-streaming systems at polling units to provide real-time evidence of electoral activities. Utomi said such measures, alongside stronger voter participation and cooperation among political parties, could help improve confidence in the electoral process as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections.