Nigeria’s main opposition party has selected former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, as its candidate to stand in elections to succeed incumbent Muhammadu Buhari, reported Reuters.
In voting to select the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday, Abubakar garnered 371 votes, defeating his nearest rival Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, governor of oil-producing Rivers state, who received 237 votes.
The PDP, which ruled Nigeria after military rule ended in 1999, was removed from power by Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) party in 2015.
The 75-year-old Abubakar has made numerous attempts to capture Nigeria’s presidency. He has stood in six primaries, and next year’s vote will be his third presidential bid. He was vice president to Olusegun Obasanjo, the first Nigerian leader after the end of decades of military rule, from 1999 to 2007,
Abubakar lost to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 during the last election, which he claimed was rigged. He also challenged the results in court.
But Buhari will not be contesting the presidential election next year when the second of his two four-year terms come to an end. Nigeria’s president has not endorsed any candidate to succeed him.
In his acceptance speech, Abubakar reiterated his campaign promise to end insecurity in the country and revive its fragile economy and promised to work with his opponents.
“I therefore pledge that I will restore unity,” said Abubakar.
He said he was committed to dealing decisively with the security situation in the country.
Abubakar’s main opponent in the upcoming presidential election will be from Nigeria’s ruling APC party, which will choose its candidate at a special convention to be held June 6-8.
The APC postponed its presidential primary from Sunday after the electoral commission extended the deadline for political parties to choose their candidates. A total of 25 candidates from the APC have registered to take part in the primaries.
