Nigeria

Atiku Abubakar Legally Changed His Name 50 Years Ago, Unearthed Documents Reveal

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has officially confirmed that he legally changed his name from Siddiq Abubakar to Atiku Abubakar five decades ago, according to an affidavit dated August 18, 1973.

The newly discovered document sheds light on Atiku Abubakar’s name history, revealing that he was initially known as Atiku Abubakar before briefly adopting the name Siddiq Abubakar and then reverting to Atiku Abubakar, a name he has retained to this day. This revelation comes at a time when questions about his previous use of the name Siddiq Abubakar have resurfaced.

The affidavit, sworn at the Chief Magistrate’s Court Registry in Lagos, details Atiku Abubakar’s transition from Siddiq Abubakar to Atiku Abubakar in 1973. The document emphasizes that all documents bearing his former name remain valid, thereby putting to rest any concerns about the legality of his name change.

At the time he made this declaration, Atiku Abubakar was serving as a deputy preventive superintendent with the Nigeria Customs Service in Apapa, Lagos.

These revelations about Atiku Abubakar’s name change come in the wake of a controversy instigated by supporters of President Bola Tinubu, who have been attempting to divert global attention from allegations of forgery and fictitious claims under oath concerning the Nigerian leader. Mr. Tinubu’s supporters have circulated documents suggesting that Atiku Abubakar took the West African Examination (WAEC) in the 1960s under the name “Siddiq,” aiming to discredit the PDP candidate’s bid to overturn Mr. Tinubu’s electoral victory.

Atiku Abubakar’s supporters argue that his situation pales in comparison to the widespread contradictions and allegations of criminality surrounding President Tinubu. Despite accusations, supporters maintain that Siddiq Abubakar was a common usage in the northern region, even to this day.

Atiku Abubakar retired from the Nigerian Customs Service in 1989 and has since played key roles in Nigeria’s political landscape.

In an attempt to counter these allegations, Atiku Abubakar’s supporters have shared photos of him with his high school classmates from Adamawa, challenging President Tinubu to do the same. This revelation follows a 1999 incident where the Old Students Association of Government College Ibadan canceled a dinner scheduled in Mr. Tinubu’s honour after establishing that he was never a student there, contrary to his claim under oath.