As former vice-president Atiku Abubakar gets set to declare his interest in the presidency in 2015, the political environment is getting more interesting. It would be his third shot at Nigeria’s No. 1 seat. Another candidate, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, a pharmacist and publisher of LEADERSHIP newspapers, has since declared his intention to run for president under the APC platform. Former Kwara governor Bukola Saraki will also be in the race, as will Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Atiku was one of the founders of the PDP in 1998, but his estrangement with Olusegun Obasanjo led to his frustration from the party in 2006. He ran on another platform in 2007 and in 2011. He returned to the PDP but left again for the APC that emerged from the CPC, ACN, ANPP and a faction of APGA.
Will Atiku get APC’s ticket? The primaries may be skewed against him, but he may benefit from a tussle that is likely to result from the different camps in the APC.
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are expected to play pivotal roles in the selection of the party’s presidential candidate and running mate via a convention slated for November.
