Atiku Abubakar is a Nigerian businessman and politician who served as Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 and has been a presidential candidate several times. This neutral biography sets out what is publicly reported about his early life, education, career, business interests, family and political journey. Allegations are described as allegations, with responses where reported.
Editorial note: this profile is based on published reports, last checked on 25 October 2026. It does not endorse any candidate or party. Related profile: Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Atiku Abubakar at a glance
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 November 1946, Jada, then British Cameroons (now Adamawa State) |
| Parents | Garba Abubakar (a trader and farmer, died 1957) and Aisha Kande |
| Education | Adamawa Provincial Secondary School; School of Hygiene, Kano (1967); Law diploma, Ahmadu Bello University (1969); master’s in International Relations, Anglia Ruskin University (2021) |
| Career | Nigeria Customs Service (about 20 years); businessman |
| Offices | Vice President of Nigeria, 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007 |
| Party (2026) | African Democratic Congress (ADC) |
Early life and education
Atiku was born in Jada in what is now Adamawa State. His father, Garba Abubakar, died in 1957 when he was a boy. He attended Jada Primary School and Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, finishing in 1965. He then trained at the School of Hygiene in Kano and earned a diploma in law from the Institute of Administration at Ahmadu Bello University in 1969. In 2021 he completed a master’s degree in International Relations at Anglia Ruskin University.
Customs career and business
He worked for about twenty years in the Nigeria Customs Service, rising to deputy director before retiring in April 1989. He entered real estate in 1974 and later moved into farming and trading. He co-founded Intels Nigeria Limited, an oil-servicing company, and has interests in other firms. In 2005 he founded the American University of Nigeria in Yola.
Political career
- 1989 to 1993: member of the Constituent Assembly; sought the governorship of Gongola State; lost the 1993 SDP presidential primary to MKO Abiola.
- 1998 to 1999: won the Adamawa governorship election but became Vice President-elect on the PDP ticket with Olusegun Obasanjo.
- 1999 to 2007: Vice President of Nigeria, sworn in 29 May 1999 and re-elected in 2003. He later fell out publicly with Obasanjo over the proposed third-term amendment, which the National Assembly rejected.
- 2007: presidential candidate of the Action Congress, placing third.
- 2011 and 2015: lost the PDP and APC presidential primaries respectively.
- 2019: PDP presidential candidate, lost to Muhammadu Buhari.
- 2023: PDP candidate, finished second behind Bola Tinubu. He challenged the result in court; the Supreme Court dismissed his petition in October 2023.
Party history: PDP (1998 to 2006), Action Congress (2006 to 2007), PDP (2007 to 2014), APC (2014 to 2017), PDP (2017 to 2025) and ADC since 2025.
Controversies as reported
Reports link him to a long-running US case involving a congressman, in which he and the congressman both denied wrongdoing, and to questions over his business interests while a civil servant, which he has said were within government rules. In 2007 INEC initially left him off the ballot over a corruption list; the Supreme Court ruled INEC lacked that power and he was restored. These are allegations or disputes, not findings of guilt.
Family
Published profiles list several marriages and about 28 children; because details are rarely confirmed publicly, we do not name individuals here.
Atiku and the 2027 election
In 2025 he left the PDP and joined the ADC. According to the sources we reviewed, he won the ADC presidential primary in May 2026, defeating Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, and is listed as the ADC candidate for the 2027 election. A report on the APC campaign also says he has pledged to restore the fuel subsidy. Check INEC for the official candidate list.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Atiku Abubakar?
He was born on 25 November 1946, so he turns 80 on 25 November 2026.
How many times has Atiku run for president?
He has sought the office repeatedly since 1993, including as a candidate in 2007, 2019 and 2023, and as an ADC aspirant in 2026.
Which parties has he belonged to?
PDP, Action Congress, APC and now the ADC, as listed above.
Sources
Images: Unsplash photographers; general Nigerian scenes, not photographs of the subject. Explore more on our Learn Yoruba hub.
