Jan 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria's ruling party decides on Thursday whether to back President Goodluck Jonathan or former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate in April elections. Here are some facts about Abubakar.
POLITICAL CAREER:
* He was one of the founders of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and served as vice president to Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007.
* Abubakar quit the PDP in 2006 after falling out with Obasanjo over his plans to seek a third term as president. He ran unsuccessfully for president himself as the opposition Action Congress candidate in the 2007 election, won by Umaru Yar'Adua.
* Abubakar has laid out five priorities for his campaign: creating jobs; improving power supply and infrastructure; fighting corruption and boosting security; education and health; and development in the restive Niger Delta oil region.
LIFE DETAILS:
* Born in the northern state of Adamawa in Nov. 1946, Abubakar is a Muslim from the Hausa ethnic group. He went briefly into exile in the United States in 1995 after surviving an assassination attempt during the regime of military ruler Sani Abacha.
* Abubakar has amassed considerable wealth and power since he gave up his old job as a customs official in 1989. He has business interests in oil services, insurance and pharmaceuticals and the media.
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