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Presidential elections

The Turbulent Political Journey of Atiku Abubakar: A Path to the Presidential Election

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, faces a crucial decision with today's election, as his age may hinder a future presidential campaign after this year. His complex journey to the presidency began in the early 1980s, working behind the scenes for Bamanga Tukur's governorship campaign. He met Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, who introduced him to politics. Atiku's involvement in the transition program initiated by Head of State Ibrahim Babangida led to his election as a National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria. His political fortunes rose and fell, with significant setbacks, including disqualification from gubernatorial elections and a public battle with his boss, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Key Takeaways:

  • Atiku's entry into politics dates back to the early 1980s, working behind the scenes on Bamanga Tukur's governorship campaign.
  • He was drawn into politics by Shehu Musa Yar'Adua and elected a National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria.
  • Atiku was involved in a bitter public battle with his boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2003 over a second term bid.
  • He attempted to run for the presidency in 2007 but was disqualified by INEC due to corruption charges, later clearing his name at the Supreme Court.
  • Atiku left the PDP in 2014 to join the APC but returned to the PDP in 2017, announcing his candidacy for the presidential nomination in 2018.
  • He won the PDP nomination with 1,532 votes, defeating 11 other contestants.
  • Atiku lost the 2019 presidential election to President Buhari of APC.

Statistics:

  • At least 15 million votes were cast in the 2019 presidential election that President Buhari won.
  • Atiku won 1,532 votes in the PDP presidential nomination convention in 2018.
  • 839 votes separated Atiku from the runner-up, Aminu Tambuwal, in the PDP nomination convention.
  • Atiku received approximately 2.6 million votes in the 2007 presidential election, taking third place.
  • The Adamawa-born politician won the December 1998 governorship elections but was tapped by the PDP's presidential candidate, Olusegun Obasanjo, as his vice-presidential candidate in 1999.

Sources:

  • "Atiku's foray into politics was in the early 1980s when he worked behind-the-scenes on the governorship campaign of Bamanga Tukur..."
  • "He was drawn by Yar'Adua into the political meetings that were happening regularly in Yar'Adua's Lagos home."
  • "The Peoples Front of Nigeria included politicians such as Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Babalola Borishade, Bola Tinubu, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sabo Bakin Zuwo."
  • "Atiku won a seat to represent his constituency at the 1989 Constituent Assembly, set up to decide a new constitution of Nigeria."
  • "The People's Front was eventually denied registration by the government (none of the groups that applied was registered) and found a place within the Social Democratic Party, one of the two parties decreed into existence by the regime."
  • "A year later, before the elections could hold, Gongola State was broken up into two - Adamawa and Taraba states. Atiku fell into the new Adamawa State."
  • "Atiku won SDP primaries in November 1991 but was soon disqualified by the government from contesting the elections."
  • "A similar fate - disqualification by the military - would befall Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Atiku's friend and political mentor, in his 1992 bid for the presidential primary of the SDP."

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