Atiku Has Been Running For The Presidency Since 1992, Starting At The SDP Primary In Jos — Isah

In a recent interview on Silverbird N24, former President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah, traced the long and persistent presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, placing it within the broader history of Nigeria’s evolving democracy. Speaking on Inside Politics, Isah reflected on how Atiku’s repeated bids for the nation’s top office have spanned several political eras, parties, and alliances.

According to Isah, “Atiku has been running for the presidency since 1992, starting at the SDP primary in Jos” He recalled that Atiku’s first major attempt came during the Social Democratic Party primaries ahead of the annulled June 12 election, where he lost to the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. Since then, Isah noted, Atiku has remained a constant figure in Nigeria’s presidential contests.

Isah explained that after serving two terms as vice president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, Atiku pursued the presidency through multiple political platforms. He pointed out that Atiku contested elections under different parties, including the Action Congress in 2007 and later the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019 and 2023, making him one of the most experienced and resilient contenders in Nigeria’s political history.

The former editors’ guild president argued that Atiku’s longevity in presidential politics reflects both his personal conviction and the nature of Nigeria’s political system, where name recognition, networks, and resources play a major role. However, he noted that longevity alone does not guarantee victory, particularly in a political environment increasingly shaped by youth participation, voter awareness, and demand for credibility.

Isah also linked Atiku’s long ambition to current debates within opposition coalitions ahead of the 2027 election, warning that repeated candidacies can generate both loyalty and resistance. He stressed that while experience can be an asset, opposition parties must balance it with internal democracy, fairness, and sensitivity to public sentiment.

He concluded that Atiku’s decades-long pursuit of the presidency is emblematic of Nigeria’s political continuity and contestation, adding that the outcome of future elections will depend less on history and more on unity, trust, and the ability of candidates to convince Nigerians that they represent a genuine alternative.

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