The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a lawsuit against political economist and former presidential candidate, Pat Utomi, over his recent efforts to establish a shadow government in Nigeria.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, accuses Utomi of attempting to create a parallel authority that the DSS claims could threaten national security and destabilize democratic institutions.
DSS Declares Shadow Government “Unconstitutional”
According to the DSS, the concept of a shadow cabinet—proposed by Utomi to serve as a credible opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration—is “unconstitutional and dangerous.” The agency warns that such a move could:
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Incite political unrest
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Trigger intergroup tensions
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Inspire unlawful or separatist movements
Led by senior counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, the DSS’s legal team is seeking a court declaration that the formation of a shadow cabinet is a violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Such a structure might incite political unrest, intergroup tensions, and embolden unlawful actors to replicate similar parallel arrangements,” the court filings state.
Who Is Pat Utomi?
Pat Utomi, a respected academic and former 2007 presidential candidate under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is the sole defendant in the case. He currently heads the Big Tent Coalition, a socio-political group that has been increasingly vocal about governance and accountability in Nigeria.
Utomi has stated that the shadow government was designed to engage the public, promote discourse, and propose viable solutions to Nigeria’s pressing challenges—not to challenge the state’s authority.
What’s Next?
As of now, the case has not yet been assigned to a judge. Legal experts and political observers are watching closely, as the outcome could set a precedent for how opposition voices and alternative governance structures are treated under Nigeria’s democratic system.
This legal battle marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s political landscape, where the boundaries of civic activism and constitutional order are being tested.
