Atiku Abubakar

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Atiku Abubakar
Born11/25/1946
BirthplaceJada, British Cameroon (now Jada, Adamawa State, Nigeria)
NationalityNigerian
OccupationPolitician, businessman
Title11th Vice President of Nigeria
Known forVice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), multiple presidential candidacies
Websitehttps://atiku.org/

Atiku Abubakar is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the 11th Vice President of Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007, under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Born on 25 November 1946 in Jada, a town in what was then British Cameroon, he's now part of Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria. Abubakar came from modest origins to become one of Nigeria's most prominent and persistent political figures. He's run for president six times: 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. Few candidates in the country's history have been as determined to reach the top job. His political journey has taken him through the Social Democratic Party, the People's Democratic Party, the Action Congress, the All Progressives Congress, and most recently the African Democratic Congress. Beyond politics, he's invested in agriculture and education. His career shows both tremendous political influence and real controversy, including legal disputes and allegations he's always denied.

Early Life

Atiku Abubakar was born on 25 November 1946 in Jada, a town in the British Cameroon trust territory. It later became part of Adamawa State following a 1961 plebiscite.[1] He grew up in a Fulani family. His father opposed Western education, something young Abubakar would eventually overcome when he pursued formal schooling.[2]

Growing up in rural northeastern Nigeria meant living through major transformations. Nigeria was moving toward independence in 1960, and the region was changing fast. His Adamawa roots would stay central to his political identity throughout his entire career. He'd eventually seek the governorship there before making his way to the vice presidency.

Career

Early Career and Customs Service

Before politics came calling, Abubakar worked in the Nigerian Customs Service. He built a solid career in public administration, gaining experience in government operations that'd serve him well later in business and politics. Eventually he climbed to a senior position before moving into private business and the political arena.

Business Ventures

Over his career, Abubakar developed serious business interests. Agriculture has been one major area. His official website published a personal narrative where he described his involvement in agricultural enterprises, treating it as both a business pursuit and a way to help Nigeria's economy grow.[3]

Education became another investment focus. He established the American University of Nigeria in Yola, Adamawa State. The institution made headlines in 2014 when it offered scholarships to fifteen Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, working through its associated American University Academy.[4]

Early Political Career and Gubernatorial Bids

Abubakar stepped into electoral politics during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nigeria was transitioning under military rule, and he saw his opportunity. He ran for Governor of Adamawa State in both 1990 and 1996 but lost both times. He didn't give up. By 1998, he'd finally won the gubernatorial election. But destiny had other plans. Before he could take the governor's oath, he was tapped as running mate to Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military head of state seeking the presidency under the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

1993 Presidential Primary

His first shot at the presidency came during the 1993 Social Democratic Party (SDP) primary. He competed for the party's nomination but lost to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe. The 1993 election itself was won by Abiola, but then military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida annulled it. Nigeria fell into crisis.

Vice Presidency (1999–2007)

As Nigeria prepared to return to civilian rule in 1999, Abubakar got the nod as Olusegun Obasanjo's running mate on the PDP ticket. The Obasanjo-Abubakar ticket won the election. On 29 May 1999, Abubakar was inaugurated as Vice President, replacing Mike Akhigbe, who'd served as de facto vice president under military ruler General Abdulsalami Abubakar.[5]

They won re-election in 2003 and served a second term running through 2007. During those eight years, Abubakar wore many hats as vice president, chairing several government committees and councils. Things were going well enough at first.

Then the relationship between Obasanjo and Abubakar fell apart. Their political disagreements became public. By the mid-2000s, they were openly feuding. When Obasanjo tried to amend the constitution for a third term, Abubakar opposed him. This rift turned ugly. The federal government went to court trying to remove Abubakar, claiming he'd defected from the PDP by joining the Action Congress. The Supreme Court of Nigeria stepped in with a landmark ruling: the Vice President couldn't be removed on those grounds.[6]

Abubakar served out his full term, leaving office on 29 May 2007. Goodluck Jonathan succeeded him as vice president under President Umaru Yar'Adua.

2007 Presidential Election

Having broken with Obasanjo and the PDP, Abubakar ran for president as the Action Congress (AC) candidate. The election on 21 April 2007 saw him finish third, behind Umaru Yar'Adua of the PDP and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP). Observers criticized the election for widespread irregularities.

2011 Presidential Primary

Back to the People's Democratic Party he went, competing in their presidential primary before the 2011 election. He lost the PDP nomination to sitting President Goodluck Jonathan, who won the general election.

2015 Presidential Primary

In 2014, Abubakar left the PDP to join the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC), which merged several opposition parties together. He contested the APC presidential primary for the 2015 election but lost the nomination to Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari then defeated Jonathan in the general election.

Return to PDP and 2019 Presidential Election

In November 2017, Abubakar left the APC and returned to the People's Democratic Party.[7][8] He won the PDP presidential nomination and ran against President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 2019 election.

During the campaign, he travelled all across Nigeria. He went to Katsina State and visited the Emir of Daura.[9] The BBC profiled him during that cycle, noting his long history in Nigerian politics and his business background.[10]

He lost to Buhari and challenged the results in court, alleging electoral fraud. Both the election tribunal and the Supreme Court upheld Buhari's victory.

2023 Presidential Election

In May 2022, Abubakar won the PDP presidential ticket for the 2023 general election. He defeated Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State, in the party's primary. But the primary outcome created real problems within the PDP. Wike and some allies felt angry about how it went and especially about the running mate selection.

The general election was held on 25 February 2023. Abubakar came in second, losing to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress. When the results came out, he and other opposition candidates disputed the outcome and called for a revote. He took his challenge to the election petition tribunal, but ultimately came up short.

Move to African Democratic Congress (2025)

In 2025, Abubakar left the PDP for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a major shift in Nigerian opposition politics. Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate who'd finished third, joined him. The BBC reported that these former rivals were uniting to present a stronger opposition front against the ruling APC before the 2027 elections.[11]

This alliance mattered because they'd been direct competitors in 2023. Many analysts blamed the fragmented opposition vote in that election for helping Tinubu win. In May 2025, both Abubakar and Obi denied having struck a formal joint ticket deal for 2027, even though speculation about their partnership was everywhere on social media.[12]

His eldest son, Adamu Abubakar, quit the PDP to join his father at the ADC. Multiple Nigerian media outlets reported this in March 2026.[13][14]

In October 2025, the Nigerian Presidency hit back publicly at allegations Abubakar made, calling his claims "baseless and distracting."[15] The exchange showed their political rivalry hasn't cooled.

Relationship with the United States

His relationship with the United States has been politically contentious in Nigeria. Premium Times reported in 2016 that the U.S. government wouldn't confirm or deny whether Abubakar was barred from or wanted in America, a question that'd fueled media speculation and political controversy for years.[16]

Political Party Affiliations

Abubakar's career shows constant party switching, reflecting how fluid Nigerian party politics can be. Here's the full list:

  • Social Democratic Party (SDP) — from the Third Republic era through 1993
  • People's Democratic Party (PDP) — from the party's founding in the late 1990s through 2006
  • Action Congress (AC) — from 2006 to roughly 2009
  • People's Democratic Party (PDP) — when he returned in the early 2010s
  • All Progressives Congress (APC) — from 2014 to 2017
  • People's Democratic Party (PDP) — from November 2017 to 2025[17]
  • African Democratic Congress (ADC) — from 2025 onward[18]

Personal Life

Abubakar holds the traditional title of Wazirin Adamawa from the Adamawa Emirate in northeastern Nigeria. He's also been honored with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), a distinction given to Nigeria's Vice President.

He maintains homes in several places across Nigeria. Adamawa State is one, and he's also got a residence in Abuja, the federal capital. His eldest son, Adamu Abubakar, got into politics as a PDP member before following his father to the ADC in 2025–2026.[19]

Legacy

Atiku Abubakar's place in Nigerian political history centers on two things: his time as Vice President during the critical early years of Nigeria's Fourth Republic, and his relentless pursuit of the presidency across three decades. Six presidential bids in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. That's among the most by any single candidate in Nigerian history.

His vice presidency from 1999 to 2007 happened during Nigeria's democratic consolidation following decades of military rule. The legal battle between the Obasanjo administration and Abubakar over his political defection produced a major Supreme Court ruling on the constitutional rights and protections of the vice president. This ruling shaped Nigerian constitutional law.[20]

His American University of Nigeria in Yola contributed to higher education development in northeastern Nigeria. The region has faced serious challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency. His 2025 alliance with Peter Obi under the African Democratic Congress is his latest attempt to reshape opposition politics. Whether this coalition will actually change Nigerian presidential dynamics remains an open question as the 2027 elections approach.

References

  1. ↑ "Profile of Atiku Abubakar: From an only child of a father who opposed western education to a political guru". 'Nigeria Today}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  2. ↑ "Profile of Atiku Abubakar: From an only child of a father who opposed western education to a political guru". 'Nigeria Today}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  3. ↑ "The Business of Agriculture: A Personal Narrative". 'Atiku.org}'. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  4. ↑ "15 Chibok girls awarded scholarships to American University Academy".Premium Times.https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/167550-15-chibok-girls-awarded-scholarships-to-american-university-academy.html#sthash.gxgwC2ZW.dpbs.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  5. ↑ "Profile: Atiku Abubakar".BBC News.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/287902.stm.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  6. ↑ "Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors v Alhaji Atiku Abubakar & Ors". 'Nigeria-Law.org}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  7. ↑ "Atiku dumps APC".Premium Times.https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/250441-atiku-dumps-apc.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  8. ↑ "Atiku defects to PDP".Pulse Nigeria.http://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/atiku-defects-to-pdp-id7680509.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  9. ↑ "Atiku campaigns in Katsina, visits Emir of Daura".Channels Television.2019-02-07.https://www.channelstv.com/2019/02/07/atiku-campaigns-in-katsina-visits-emir-of-daura/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  10. ↑ "Nigeria election 2019: Atiku Abubakar - the man who wants to be president".BBC News.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47046599.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  11. ↑ "ADC: Nigeria's Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi join forces against Bola Tinubu".BBC News.2025-07-07.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2470d7x40o.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  12. ↑ "Nigerian politicians Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar deny striking joint ticket deal for 2027 presidential election". 'Africa Check}'. 2025-05-23. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  13. ↑ "Atiku's Son Quits PDP, To Join Father In ADC".The Whistler.https://thewhistler.ng/atikus-son-quits-pdp-to-join-father-in-adc/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  14. ↑ "Atiku's son Adamu quits PDP".The Nation.https://thenationonlineng.net/atikus-son-adamu-quits-pdp/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  15. ↑ "Atiku Abubakar's Latest Claim are Baseless and Distracting". 'The State House, Abuja}'. 2025-10-03. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  16. ↑ "Exclusive: U.S. gov't won't say whether Atiku barred, wanted in America".Premium Times.https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/221995-exclusive-wont-say-whether-atiku-barred-wanted-america-u-s-govt.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  17. ↑ "Atiku dumps APC".Premium Times.https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/250441-atiku-dumps-apc.html.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  18. ↑ "ADC: Nigeria's Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi join forces against Bola Tinubu".BBC News.2025-07-07.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2470d7x40o.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  19. ↑ "Atiku's Son Quits PDP, To Join Father In ADC".The Whistler.https://thewhistler.ng/atikus-son-quits-pdp-to-join-father-in-adc/.Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  20. ↑ "Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors v Alhaji Atiku Abubakar & Ors". 'Nigeria-Law.org}'. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
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