Nigeria will hold its seventh consecutive democratic election since its return to democracy in February 2023. And amongst the leading candidates taking part in the February 2023 presidential election in Nigeria is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Atiku’s major counterparts, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed of the All-Progressive Congress (APC) are veteran politicians in the country’s political system. Atiku has, in his political career, aligned with both of the aforementioned as allies.
In the election that enthroned Nigeria’s current President, Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar ran alongside Mr. Peter Obi under the platform of the PDP. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar contested for Nigeria’s president under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
To succeed Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku has the hard task of defeating his former allies in a quest the former Vice President has contested five times in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.
What would victory mean for Atiku and PDP?
If Alhaji Atiku wins the Office of the President at his sixth trial, the former Vice President would return power to the party that has served as Nigeria’s ruling party since the run to democratic elections.
- It would also mean Nigerians believe in the competence of the candidates despite the internal crisis that has seen five incumbent governors withdraw from the party’s presidential campaign council.