Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, has warned that attempts to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections could plunge Nigeria into a serious national crisis.

Utomi raised the concern following discussions with Nigerians at an informal gathering in Manchester, United Kingdom, where participants expressed worries about the credibility of the forthcoming elections.

In a post on his X handle on Sunday, the economist said he attended a lunch organised for the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, but the gathering turned into a discussion about Nigeria’s political challenges.

He wrote, “I am in the middle of an accidental town hall meeting in Manchester in the UK. I came to a lunch to which Peter Obi was invited. I found food I looked forward to deferred for questions on the trouble with Nigeria.”

According to Utomi, several participants expressed concern over what they perceived as the confidence of some public officials that the outcome of the 2027 elections was already predetermined.

“Many of the questions suggest worry about the boldness of public officials in projecting rigging with results of elections of 2027 considered in the pocket,” he stated.

The professor said the participants were also interested in finding ways to prevent electoral malpractice and ensure that the votes of Nigerians count.

“They were energised to ask for how they could fight rigging,” he added.

Utomi warned that any attempt by those in power to undermine the will of the electorate could have severe consequences for the country.

“The determination to do whatever will prevent election malpractice suggests we may see a civil war if power tries to muscle the will of the people this time,” he said.

His warning comes amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with concerns about electoral transparency, democratic accountability and the credibility of the voting process remaining key issues in the country’s political landscape.