Atiku Abubakar Latest News Updates (March, 2023)

Atiku Abubakar GCON is a Nigerian politician and business tycoon. He was the 11th vice-president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 under the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo.

In 1998 he was elected Governor of Adamawa State. While still Governor-Elect, he was selected by then-presidential candidate Olusegun Obasanjo as his running mate. The duo went on to win elections in February 1999, and Abubakar was sworn in as Nigeria’s second democratically elected vice president on 29 May 1999.

Abubakar is a co-founder of Intels, an oil servicing business with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad. He is also the founder of Adama Beverages Limited, and the American University of Nigeria (AUN), both in Yola, Adamawa.

Latest News on Atiku Abubakar – PDP Presidential Candidate

Currently, Atiku is a member of People’s Democratic Party.

In this post, we take a look at the latest news update on Atiku Abubakar

Benue PDP Urge Nigerians To Vote Atiku Abubakar (January 11, 2019)

Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged Nigerians to vote for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on February 16 to end Fulani supremacist agenda and killings in the country.

Publicity Secretary and Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee, Benue PDP Campaign Organisation, BemgbaIortyom, made the call in a statement following cattle breeders’ recent endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari as APC presidential candidate.

But Iortyom said a vote for Buhari would be a vote for continued killing of farmers and forceful annexation and occupation of people’s lands, as being currently witnessed.

He noted that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), while promising to mobilise over ten million votes for Buhari, also vowed to work against Atiku.

The MACBAN revealed that their grouse against Atiku is that he is not disposed to their agenda, despite being a Fulani. As such, their endorsement of Buhari means they have found an ally and a friend of their cause.

Also, the Taraba state chapter of MACBAN has endorsed President Buhari and the Taraba State APC gubernatorial candidate, Sami Abubakar Danladi for the forthcoming general elections.

Briefing journalists in Jalingo, state chairman of the association, Sahabi Mahmud Tukur, said the decision was reached following the President’s promise to adhere to his 2015 election campaign promises, especially in the Northeast.

Citing the Mambilla Hydro Power Project in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba, plans to construct bridge across River Benue in Ibi and other projects in the region, Buhari’s choice, he said, was most relevant to the country’s growth and development needs.

Ohanaeze Denies Endorsing Atiku (January 10, 2019)     

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo pulled a surprise trigger on Thursday when it denied endorsing the presidential aspiration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

According to rumours making the rounds, it was alleged that Ohanaeze Ndigbo was part of the Igbo groups that met in Enugu late last year at a meeting presided over by constitutional lawyer, Prof Ben Nwabueze, to endorse the aspirations of Abubakar.

The alleged endorsement was thought of as a way to show gratitude for picking Mr Peter Obi as his running mate. However, during a press briefing in Enugu to mark its second year in office, the leadership of the socio-cultural organization said there was no truth in the matter, stressing that it was yet to adopt any candidate.

Ohanaeze revealed that did not endorse Atiku Abubakar neither have they adopted any presidential candidate. The leadership stated that they are committed to ensuring that Nigeria is restructured for the benefit of the people. The group also said that they will identify with candidates whose restructuring agenda tallies with our views and they made it clear that Ohanaeze will meet sometime this month to ventilate the issue and be able to arrive at a conclusion.

APC Thugs Destroyed the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organization’s Office in Akure (January 10, 2019)

Thugs allegedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday destroyed the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation’s office in Akure.

The spokesman of the PDP campaign in the state, Kayode Fasua, alleged that the hoodlums were working for the APC. He also said the hoodlums, numbering about 10 were armed to the teeth when they stormed the Ijapo Office of the PDP campaign council in the early hours of yesterday and descended on the security man on duty. The thugs also destroyed the PDP banners, billboards and posters.

But the Campaign Organisation in Ondo State condemned the attack on its office in Akure by unknown hoodlums even as Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, said the command was not aware of the incident.

However, he has asked Nigerian youths to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari for his poor economic strategies that resulted in the loss of over 10 million jobs between 2015 and 2018.

He declared that if voted into office, his administration would restore the 10 million jobs lost under the Buhari administration since 2015.

Atiku linked rising insecurity in the country to high youth unemployment without serious efforts by the government to create jobs.

He, however, assured that if elected President, his administration would take strategic steps to boost local and international businesses, a development he said, would immediately reduce the soaring unemployment figures.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had last month declared that the country’s unemployment rate worsened in the third quarter of 2018, rising from 18.8 per cent in Q3 2017 to 23.1 per cent in Q3 2018.

In reference to the current administration, Atiku asked if the Buhari-led government has been able to fight corruption, improve the economy and secure the country as earlier promised.

Atiku further revealed that the only problem in the country when Buhari took the reins was the insecurity in the North West and North Central. Unfortunately, more lives have been lost under the Buhari administration hence they have failed as far as security is concerned according to Atiku.

Governor Kayode Fayemi Deprives the Atiku’s Presidential Campaign From Using the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium (January 10, 2019)

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that Governor Kayode Fayemi deprived the party use of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium to hold Atiku’s presidential campaign.

Atiku’s campaign train is scheduled to visit Ekiti on Monday, January 14, to canvass for votes from the electorate in the February 16 polls.

Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, state Chairman of the party, Gboyega Oguntuase, said it smacked of disrespect for the state government to frustrate the party from using the stadium it requested for its campaign.

But Fayemi described the allegation as misdirected and spurious, saying the civil servants only replied the letter based on the prevailing situation and that he never influenced their opinion on the matter.

Buhari, Atiku’s Presidential Bids Split Miyetti Allah In Northeast (January 9, 2019)

The leadership of the northeast chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) is reportedly divided over support for President Muhammadu Buhari and standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

According to the Guardian, some members of the MACBAN are vehemently drumming supports for the presidential candidate of the PDP while others are rooting for Buhari. Also, it was further learnt that confusion has also trailed which of the governorship candidates in Taraba State on the platform of APC and PDP the group should support.

The Northeast chairman of the association, Mafindi Damburam paid a courtesy call on Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State with some members of his group and revealed to the Governor that they had resolved to adopt Atiku and Ishaku, both of the PDP. Particularly, with the Governor’s decision to step down the open Anti-Grazing law, the members, he said, are left with no option than to throw their weights in support of his re-election and that of Atiku.

Damburam also enjoined the people to come out en-mass on the election days to queue massively behind the PDP presidential candidate and Ishaku. Its state chairman, Sahabi M. Tukur, had charged its members nationwide to support Buhari’s re-election, and the APC governorship candidate in the state, Sani Abubakar Danladi.

Tukur had charged its members nationwide to support Buhari’s re-election, and the APC governorship candidate in the state, Sani Abubakar Danladi. He cited the numerous achievements of President Buhari in the region, adding that it would be unfair for the association not to support the APC candidates in the polls.

Additionally, the decision to support Buhari and Danladi, according to Tukur is not only a mark of respect for our leaders but also to the conviction that the President has fulfilled his campaign promises in areas of security, fighting corruption and enhancing the economic growth of our country.

On the adverse effects of the group’s adoption of different candidates and political parties, the northeast chairmen said it would not in any way drag the association to the background. He said the support by the Fulani group for Atiku and Ishaku, was also a path to joining in building a stronger state, having realised their good intentions and Ishaku’s renege on earlier antagonistic position.

PDP defends Atiku’s absence at Obi’s reception in Awka (January 8, 2019)

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has defended Atiku Abubakar’s absence at a reception held for his running mate, Peter Obi in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

This was in response to insinuations that Atiku deliberately shunned the inter-denominational Church service/reception held for Obi at the weekend.

Director-General of the Atiku/Peter Campaign Council, Dr. Harry Oranezi, explained that Atiku was not factored into the programme.

He said it was meant for PDP chieftains, as well as its members and supporters from the state. Oranezi, a former member of the House of Representatives, further disclosed that the event was necessitated by the need to welcome Obi home after his appointment as Atiku’s running mate.

He added that it was also an opportunity to show appreciation to the PDP presidential candidate for the choice of Obi, while seeking God’s guidance to achieve victory in the forthcoming election.

He said: “The event was an Anambra State affair, meant for some sons and daughters, including well-wishers from outside the state to celebrate with us.”

Also, Chairman of Atiku/Obi Presidential Council, OkoliAkarika, said the grand reception was purely to welcome and honour Obi as the vice-presidential candidate of PDP.

Akirika, a former Commissioner for Lands, added that the organisers deemed it fit to also use the occasion to showcase other candidates from the state who are vying for various positions, from state to federal levels.

He stressed that the reception was to further show the Igbo people that it is only the PDP that has their interest at heart, unlike the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which is working against Igbo interest.

In a related development, Atiku’s wife, Jennifer yesterday charged the party and its supporters in Edo to dissociate from poverty by rejecting the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) in the February 16 election.

Mrs. Atiku, who spoke at the PDP campaign in Edo Central Senatorial District, said she came with a message of hope for Esan people and Nigerians.

Chairman of the PDP in the state, Dan Orbih, said next month’s general elections was not about the party, but securing a better future for Nigerians and the country’s hard-earned democracy.

He said the country was presently drifting towards dictatorship and condemned the appointment of Amina Zakari as head of INEC’s collation centre.

The party’s candidate in the 2016 gubernatorial election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu admonished the people to reject APC at the polls, or else the drowning party would kill Nigeria.

Atiku Chides FG Over Insecurity, Poverty (January 8, 2019)  

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is dead because of its failure to deliver on its responsibilities to the people.

He said the Buhari administration had taken steps to promote widespread decadence in the national economy, a development, he noted, had produced unprecedented expansion in the level of poverty, unemployment and general misery.

Atiku, who spoke at a political rally in Lokoja, particularly derided the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration for defying the payment of salaries and allowances of workers.

Besides, the National Co-ordinator of Atiku Nationwide Project, HajiyaAishatu Bello, said the Buhari-led administration had failed in securing lives and property of Nigerians.

Bello, who stated this yesterday while speaking with journalists in Gombe during the official inauguration of North-East co-ordinators and state excos, said that insecurity is worse than under PDP administration in the last 16 years.

Meanwhile, the PDP has asked the President to throw in the towel and end his re-election bid because of what the party called “the expressed disapproval and vilification by his own Campaign Director-General, Rotimi Amaechi, in the leaked audio recording.”

The PDP also noted that since the audio recording leaked last Friday, neither Amaechi nor the Buhari Campaign Organisation has mustered the strength to deny or offer any cogent explanation on the matter, an indication, according to the party, showed that Buhari has lost the loyalty of his support base.