Atiku Abubakar Wins African Democratic Congress Nomination
Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar secured his party's nomination to run against President Bola Tinubu in the January elections. He will represent the African Democratic Congress after receiving support from several opposition figures.
SemaforFormer Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar won the African Democratic Congress nomination to challenge President Bola Tinubu in January's presidential election. Abubakar received the nomination after previously running for president six times. He finished second in the 2023 election with 29 percent of the vote.
Abubakar and other opposition leaders joined the African Democratic Congress over the past year to field a single candidate against Tinubu. Several politicians who helped form the coalition have since left the group. Peter Obi, who also ran in the 2023 election, joined the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress.
Obi is expected to become that party's candidate after primaries scheduled for May 29. The departures leave the opposition divided ahead of the January vote, with the same leading candidates from 2023 now running under different party labels.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
5 events- 2023
Atiku Abubakar received 29 percent of the vote and finished second.
1 sourceSemafor - Past year
Opposition figures joined the African Democratic Congress to unify against Tinubu.
1 sourceSemafor - Recent weeks
Key politicians left the African Democratic Congress coalition.
1 sourceSemafor - May 29, 2026
Atiku Abubakar won the African Democratic Congress nomination.
1 sourceSemafor - May 29, 2026
Nigeria Democratic Congress holds primaries with Peter Obi expected to win nomination.
1 sourceSemafor
Potential Impact
- 01
African Democratic Congress will field Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.
- 02
Opposition vote may split between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi in January.
Transparency Panel
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