Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has declared his intention to persistently pursue the presidency for as long as he remains alive and in good health.
Justifying his numerous attempts at the presidency without success, the former vice-president drew parallels with the former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who contested seven times before clinching victory.
Atiku made these remarks during an interview on the Hausa service of the Voice of America. The 77-year-old, who will be 81 by the country’s next general election in 2027, also addressed the ongoing crisis within the PDP, stressing the importance of unity among its members to secure victory in the upcoming election.
Atiku said, “Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy. Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning.
“However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required.”
Atiku has made six attempts to secure the presidency of Nigeria, spanning from 1993 to 2023.
His quest began in 1993 when he contested in the Social Democratic Party presidential primaries, ultimately losing to Moshood Abiola. Subsequently, he vied for the presidency under various political parties, including the Action Congress in 2007, where he finished third behind Umaru Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari.
Despite his endeavors, Atiku faced defeat in the 2011 PDP presidential primaries, followed by unsuccessful bids in the 2015 APC presidential primaries and the 2019 PDP presidential election.
Most recently, in 2023, Atiku’s presidential aspirations were thwarted by President Bola Tinubu.