Former presidential candidate and political economist, Prof. Patrick Utomi, has warned that declining public confidence in Nigeria’s elections, institutions and legal system could expose the country to serious instability.
Utomi gave the warning while speaking at the 22nd Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) Conference in Enugu, where he stressed the importance of credible elections, strong institutions and clear laws to the stability and development of the country.
According to him, elections are not simply about choosing political office holders but also play a major role in giving governments legitimacy and strengthening democratic institutions.
Utomi argued that when citizens lose faith in elections and begin to believe that their votes cannot influence who governs them, the huge resources spent on conducting elections become difficult to justify.
“If the people are convinced that there is no point, what is an election? Imagine the amount of money we waste to have elections that are totally meaningless because they do not legitimise anybody,” he said.
The political economist also explained that the strength of a country’s institutions has a direct connection with its economic and social progress.
He described institutions as rules and boundaries that help people understand expected behaviour and anticipate consequences, saying this reduces uncertainty and makes it easier for individuals and businesses to operate.
“Institutions are simply boundaries that define behaviour. Within the boundaries, you can anticipate outcomes. Outside the boundaries, there are consequences,” Utomi said.
He added that predictable institutions help lower transaction costs and create an environment where people can grow and make progress.
However, Utomi expressed concern that practices that should be considered unacceptable have increasingly become normalised in Nigeria.
He said this has raised the cost of doing business, weakened confidence in institutions and created conditions that could push the country towards a dangerous point.
“What has happened to us, unfortunately, is because the abnormal has become so accepted that the transaction costs of engaging in Nigeria are such that we are only heading in one direction — ultimate collapse,” he warned.
Utomi said Nigeria could face a serious crisis if there is no change in the country’s institutional and governance trajectory.
He also warned that frustration could become destructive when citizens feel they have no legitimate way to influence the direction of their society.
“If people realise that they can’t do anything about anything, they keep quiet. And today, they get angry enough, they destroy something,” he said.
The economist referred to the experiences of countries that have suffered institutional breakdown and violent conflicts, saying they offer warnings about what can happen when governance structures become weak.
He therefore urged journalists and editors to take seriously their responsibility as “gatekeepers” in protecting democratic institutions and demanding accountability from those in positions of authority.
Utomi said the media has an important role in preventing institutional decay, while lawyers also have a significant responsibility because of the central role of law in maintaining social order.
He stressed that laws must be precise because citizens need clear rules to understand what is acceptable and what is not.
“If the law cannot show precision, it has no value because that’s what it does to help society order where it is going,” he said.
Utomi also commended the organisers of the conference for focusing on issues he described as crucial to Nigeria’s future.
He urged participants not to allow the discussions to end as mere talk, but to work towards practical steps that can strengthen the country’s institutions and democratic system.
“Please, let us get value out of this. It matters,” he said.
