Atiku Abubakar

Name as listed

ABUBAKAR ATIKU

Party

ADC

Age

79

Gender

Male

Qualifications

F.S.L.C. WASC MA. (INT. RELATIONS

As printed on INEC's final list of candidates. Spelling and order of names are INEC's.

Won the ADC presidential primary in May 2026 with 1,846,370 of 2,527,977 votes cast, ahead of Rotimi Amaechi (504,117) and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen (177,120); results were announced on 27 May. Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the results; Amaechi sued, then withdrew the suit in July after becoming the running mate.

• Party leadership dispute: on 13 July 2026 the Court of Appeal upheld a Federal High Court order barring INEC from recognising state congresses organised by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership; the ADC and Atiku said they would appeal to the Supreme Court (outcome not found as of 1 October 2026). INEC said it issued the candidate-upload code only to the Mark-led leadership. A faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe says Chris Uba is the ADC candidate.

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• On 15 June 2026 a Federal High Court judge ordered INEC to deregister five parties (ADC, Accord, AA, APP and ZLP); the Court of Appeal declared that judgment null and void on 28 July 2026 and held that the parties remain registered.

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As reported up to the date of this record. A court may since have ruled.

1. 1

   Restore a targeted petrol subsidy, which his campaign says would be tied to domestic crude production and refining

2. 2

   Review the student loan fund (NELFUND), including possible debt forgiveness for beneficiaries

3. 3

   Pay local government funds directly to councils, in line with the Supreme Court autonomy judgment

4. 4

   Revive the Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri ports and support the Uyo deep sea port; reopen land borders to legitimate trade

5. 5

   Review the electricity tariff band system

6. 6

   A $10 billion start-up and entrepreneurship financing programme

7. 7

   Restructure the federation by devolving powers to states and local governments, and implement the Oronsaye Report to cut duplicated agencies

On INEC's final list of candidates.