Nigeria's opposition party picks Abubakar to run for president again

Nigeria's former vice president, veteran politician Atiku Abubakar, will run for president again next year after the main opposition party picked him as its candidate to stand in elections to succeed incumbent Muhammadu Buhari.

Abubakar, 75, lost to Buhari during the last election in 2019, 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 People's Democratic Party (PDP) party, which ruled Nigeria after military rule ended in 1999, was ousted from power by Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) party in 2015.

The PDP is vying for a return to governing Africa's biggest economy and most populous country.

Vote counting started late on Saturday and Abubakar garnered 371 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, governor of oil-producing Rivers state, who received 237 votes.

The other contestants – including former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Magazine Publisher, Dele Momodu – got zero votes.

Twelve invalid votes were recorded.

While Atiku’s victory at the primary is his second successive attempt, it also marked his fifth shot at the presidency.

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