Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a lawsuit against political economy professor Pat Utomi regarding his proposal of a ‘shadow government’.
A shadow government consists of opposition members who replicate the organisation and cabinet of the existing government. This concept is typically found in parliamentary systems.
On May 5, Utomi introduced the initiative online, referring to it as the ‘Big tent coalition shadow government’.The professor stated that the shadow government’s purpose is to act as a credible opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration. According to Utomi, the initiative represents a “national emergency response” to Tinubu’s governance.
The shadow cabinet features various experts and public personalities from the opposition, including Dele Farotimi, a human rights advocate scheduled to oversee the ombudsman and the good governance sector.
In a legal action labelled FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, submitted to the Abuja High Court, the secret police seek a ruling to declare the shadow government proposal unlawful.
As reported by NAN, the DSS initiated the lawsuit through a legal team led by Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Utomi is the only defendant in this case.
The DSS contends that the formation of the shadow government constitutes a serious violation of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and poses a risk to the nation’s democratic framework.
The DSS prayed the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Utomi, his agents and associates “from further taking any steps towards the establishment or operation of a ‘shadow government,’ ‘shadow cabinet’ or any similar entity not recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”.
“The ‘shadow government’ or ‘shadow cabinet’ is an unregistered and unrecognised body claiming to operate as an alternative government. contrary to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the suit reads.
The DSS added that the shadow government initiative could provoke political instability and encourage other illegal entities to create similar parallel structures within the country.
