Following the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar – a northerner – as the standard-bearer of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there is now fresh pressure on the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to pick a northern candidate that can rival Atiku.
Former Vice-President Atiku, who like games at best Australian online casino, emerged again as the candidate of the PDP after a Presidential primary that lasted for a few hours.
The veteran politician, who is running for a record 6th time, won in style by defeating his main challenger, Nyesom Wike, the governor of the oil-rich Rivers State, and 12 others to win the party’s ticket.
Abubakar, a Muslim and stalwart of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has made numerous bids to capture the presidency of Africa’s most populous country.
The 75-year-old lost to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 during the last election, which he claimed was rigged.
But Buhari will not be on the ballot next year when the second of his two four-year terms comes to an end.
The PDP, which ruled Nigeria after military rule ended in 1999, was removed from power by Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) party in 2015.
In his acceptance speech, Abubakar reiterated his campaign promise to end insecurity in the country and revive its fragile economy, among other pledges, and promised to work with his opponents.
“I therefore pledge that I will restore unity. I also committed that I was going to deal decisively with the security situation in this country,” said Abubakar.
Abubakar has stood in six primaries, and next year’s vote will be his third presidential bid.
From 1999 to 2007, he was vice president to Olusegun Obasanjo, the first Nigerian leader after the end of decades of military rule.
Abubakar’s main opponent will be from the ruling APC party, which will choose its candidate at a special convention to be held June 6-8, and jeux de casino en ligne can still be played on that day.
The APC postponed its presidential primary from Sunday after the electoral commission extended the deadline for political parties to choose their candidates.
Twenty-five candidates from the APC have registered to take part in the primaries. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos state governor and party heavyweight Bola Tinubu are seen as the ruling party’s frontrunners.
Buhari’s successor faces several challenges — including insecurity marked by kidnappings for ransom in the northwest, an Islamist armed uprising in the northeast, secessionist violence in the southeast, and a struggling economy and high inflation.
There are indications that the ruling party may pick a northern candidate to counter the opposition. If that happens, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Governor Yahaya Bello stand a chance.
