Pat Utomi Receives Nationwide Backing as DSS Sues Over “Shadow Government” Plan

Renowned political economist and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, disclosed on Friday that hundreds of Nigerians are mobilising in his defence after the Department of State Services (DSS) filed a lawsuit against him for allegedly attempting to form a “shadow government.”

Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Utomi expressed gratitude for the widespread support and revealed plans by sympathisers to assemble a legal defence team of 500 lawyers to challenge the suit.

“It’s energising (that) some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS,” he posted.

The DSS, in a case filed on May 13 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accused Utomi of attempting to create a parallel governing body in violation of the constitution. The suit, brought forward by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Akinlolu Kehinde, labels Utomi’s initiative a threat to national stability and seeks a court order declaring it unconstitutional.

Utomi, however, dismissed the DSS’s claims as an overreaction, describing the move as a “shadowy business of chasing shadows.”

“I am heartened by messages of solidarity from across Nigeria on this shadowy business of chasing shadows of shadow cabinets,” he stated.
“They remind me of the Nigeria I used to know. I want to thank all.”

In his defence, Utomi clarified that the proposed “shadow cabinet” is not a rebellion or an attempt to seize power, but a constructive civic initiative aimed at holding the government accountable and guiding policy through informed national discourse.

He explained that the concept of a shadow government is a globally recognised democratic tool used by opposition figures to provide alternative policies and critique governance—not a bid for insurrection.

The development has sparked considerable attention, with many civil society groups, legal experts, and political observers condemning the DSS’s action as an attack on democratic expression.

As the legal battle looms, the case is poised to become a high-profile test of civil liberties and the boundaries of political dissent in Nigeria.