Atiku Abubakar's presidential candidacy claims clarified

An analysis of recent claims made by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode regarding Atiku Abubakar’s political history suggests several inaccuracies regarding the number of times Abubakar has sought the Nigerian presidency.

While Fani-Kayode argues that Abubakar has made seven attempts at the presidency, records indicate that Abubakar was actually on the presidential ballot in 2007, 2019, and 2023. The years 1993, 2011, and 2015 involved contests for party nominations rather than general election presidential candidacies. With his emergence as the ADC candidate for 2027, the upcoming election would mark his fourth general-election presidential candidacy.

The report also notes that Nigeria’s Constitution, specifically Section 137, does not disqualify individuals based on the number of unsuccessful attempts to seek office; it only bars those who have already been elected president twice.