Former Nigeria Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been around Nigeria’s political circles forever; and he’s swapped parties for fun as he’s trudged along.
The man who served as President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007, has just announced that he’s dumpingthe governing APC—a political party he just joined in 2014 after falling out with his friends in the PDP.
We go back in time to chart Atiku’s political journey as he seeks to become Nigeria’s president someday….
1992
Musa Yar’adua props Atiku for the SDP Presidential primary. Atiku has been honing his craft under Yar'adua’s PDM political machinery.
Atiku loses the SDP ticket to MKO Abiola and abandons his presidential ambition on the floor of the convention.
There is a gentleman’s agreement that Abiola will announce Atiku as his running mate, but Abiola announces Babagana Kingibe as his running mate instead.
Atiku licks his wounds.
1999-2007
Atiku is elected Governor of Adamawa State.
However, Obasanjo who has just secured the PDP presidential ticket from prison, snaps Atiku up to become his running mate.
Atiku serves as Obasanjo’s Vice President. He falls out with Obasanjo before the end of their first term together and after they secure their second term ticket.
2006--2009
Atiku defects to Action Congress (AC) after picking fights with Obasanjo. Their relationship has frozen irredeemably.
At some point during their duels, Atiku secures the support of most PDP Governors who urge him to run against Obasanjo just before the expiration of their first term.
Atiku is that powerful and influential.
Obasanjo famously kneels before Atiku and extracts the latter’s support for a joint Obasanjo/Atiku re-election ticket in 2003.
Atiku is in the AC from 2006-2009.
2009
Atiku falls out with AC godfather Bola Tinubu and dumps the AC for the PDP.
2011
Atiku loses PDP presidential ticket to Goodluck Jonathan at the Eagle square venue of the PDP convention.
2013
Atiku stages walkout from the PDP convention alongside aggrieved Governors of the then governing party.
He pitches tent with the APC.
2014
Atiku runs for president on the APC platform.
He loses the APC presidential primary in Lagos to Muhammadu Buhari.
He polls a distant third behind Buhari and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
2017
Atiku says he has been sidelined by the APC, dumps the APC.
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He cites lack of internal democracy, non-adherence to the constitution of the APC and dictatorial bent of the APC for his action.
The worldawaits Atiku's next move.