Atiku Visits U.S. Ahead Of 2019 Elections

Related stories

Tears as Legendary Nigerian Tycoon Aminu Dantata, Dangote’s Uncle Passes Away at 94

By Abiola Olawale The business community and many citizens have...

Worsening Crisis: Saraki Predicts More Massive Defections from PDP

By Abiola Olawale A former President of the Senate and...

INEC Unveils Timetable for Nationwide Bye-Elections as Voter Registration Resumes August 18

By Abiola Olawale The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has...

How 2027 Intrigues, Power Play Ousted Ganduje as APC National Chairman

By Abiola Olawale Latest reports emerging on Friday as to...

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will arrive the United States any moment from now, crossing one of the most serious political hurdles on his path ahead of the upcoming general elections.

Mr Abubakar, sources said, left Nigeria early today, and is expected to land in Washington D.C., the American capital, ending a 12-year deprivation of visa to a country in which he once lived and owned properties.

Campaign sources told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday evening that Mr Abubakar would be speaking at a forum by the American Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. and attend other meetings aimed at boosting his presidential election standing.

Mr Abubakar’s arrival in the U.S. may rattle the ruling All Progressives Congress, which has taunted him for his inability to enter the U.S. for over a decade.

Mr Abubakar has not visited the U.S. since 2007 when he left as Nigeria’s vice-president. He served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Mr Obasanjo accused Mr Abubakar of fraud while in office, and he was also linked to corruption charges filed in the U.S. The politician denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

For the over 12 years that Mr Abubakar was unable to visit the U.S. American authorities had declined to issue him entry visa and there were speculation that a secret indictment had been entered against him by that country’s authorities.

PREMIUM TIMES reported last year that Mr Abubakar sold his estate in the United States, following his inability to enter the country. He denied that his inability to enter the U.S. informed the sale, saying he only sold the mansion because he no longer needed it as he was now fully based in Nigeria.

Mr Abubakar’s visa appears to have come through the intervention of Mr Obasanjo, with whom he recently settled decade-old dispute ahead of the 2019 elections.

Mr Obasanjo wants President Muhammadu Buhari out of office, after accusing him of displaying incompetence in the face of myriads issues confronting the country.

 

Party insiders told PREMIUM TIMES U.S. authorities made it clear that Mr Abubakar was issued visa without preconditions, meaning he would not be detained or harrassed in any way if he entered the country.

Mr Abubakar received a U.S. visa last December, sources said.

saying it could tip the outcome of the upcoming presidential elections.

Mr Abubakar, however, kept his cool, refusing to join issues with the opposition party, until today when he quietly entered the United States.

Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa is an experienced, and committed communication, business, administrative, data and research specialist . His deep knowledge of the intersection between communication, business, data, and journalism are quite profound. His passion for professional excellence remains the guiding principle of his work, and in the course of his career spanning sectors such as administration, tourism, business management, communication and journalism, Hamilton has won key awards. He is a delightful writer, researcher and data analyst. He loves team-work, problem-solving, organizational management, communication strategy, and enjoys travelling. He can be reached at: hamilton_68@yahoo.com

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Monday Okpebholo, Ifeanyi Uba's Seats: INEC Unveils Timetable for Bye-Elections as Voter Registration Resumes August 18Tears as Legendary Nigerian Tycoon Aminu Dantata, Dangote's Uncle Passes Away at 94Worsening Crisis: Saraki Predicts More Massive Defections from PDPINEC Unveils Timetable for Nationwide Bye-Elections as Voter Registration Resumes August 18How 2027 Intrigues, Power Play Ousted Ganduje as APC National ChairmanExclusive! Nigerians, International bodies Demand Justice as Ogun State Govt Stalls Estate Development, 9 Years after Payments for landNAPTIP Declares Speed Darlington Wanted for Rape, Cyberbullying AllegationsNNPCL Raises Alarm, Says Saboteurs Plot to Derail Corruption-Free OverhaulKenyan High Court Condemns Nnamdi Kanu’s Extradition to Nigeria as UnlawfulJust In! High Stake Intrigues as Ganduje Resigns as APC National ChairmanOil Prices Set For Weekly Loss as War Premium EvaporatesList of Top 10 Most Advanced Countries in the WorldWhy African Countries Depend On Foreign Handouts, Aids -- ObasanjoRivers Crisis: How Tinubu Brokered Peace Between Fubara, Pro-Wike LawmakersRivers Crisis: How We Resolved Our Rift With Fubara -- Wike Reveals
X whatsapp