Professor Pat Utomi criticises the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its online supporters, saying he will not engage with them because it would insult his integrity. Utomi, a prominent political economist and long-time critic of President Bola Tinubu’s government, says the “data boys” attack and threaten him online and are allegedly paid to troll critics.
In posts circulated across several Nigerian outlets, Utomi argues that Nigeria’s problems require serious intellectual engagement rather than responding to social media intimidation. Coverage also situates his comments within rising political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections, as campaigning and online activity increase among ruling party supporters and opposition figures.
Outlets largely agree on the central point: Utomi’s refusal to engage APC-aligned social media defenders and his accusation that their behaviour targets critics. One outlet adds additional context about the subject of his earlier remarks—his concerns about the living and working conditions of Nigerian soldiers and their pay—while others focus more directly on his exchange with the “data boys” and the broader electoral build-up.
