Professor Pat Utomi, political economist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has said Nigeria is “in a complete mess”, citing failed leadership, deepening corruption and eroding public confidence in government institutions.

Utomi made the comments in an interview with Vanguard on March 7, during which he assessed the nation’s political and governance challenges. He criticised the management of public resources and the performance of state institutions.

Utomi said Nigeria is suffering from what he described as “a policy wilderness,” where decision‑making is driven more by personal gain than national development. He linked the current situation to mismanagement of opportunities by political leaders.

He criticised the country’s power sector, noting earlier promises by President Bola Tinubu to improve electricity had not been fulfilled, and suggested this was a significant failure of governance.

On national hunger and insecurity, Utomi said political leaders had presided over worsening conditions without effective intervention, contributing to hardship for citizens.

Utomi also said that nearly 40 per cent of public project funds ended up in private hands, a claim he made to underline concerns about corruption and diversion of resources.

Regarding Nigeria’s judiciary, he described it as ineffective, saying it was “dead, buried, forgotten” in the context of delivering justice.

On the conduct of past elections, Utomi said officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission would still be held accountable, asserting that some would face imprisonment for their roles in the 2023 polls.

Utomi called for urgent reforms, including electoral reforms and accountability for leaders, as part of efforts to address what he described as institutional weaknesses and the erosion of public trust.