Atiku Abubakar submits presidential nomination forms.

Former Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has become the first person to  return his expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2015 presidential election to the National Secretariat of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.

Atiku who was also the first person to pick the forms more than two weeks ago, is one of four people contesting the primary in his party. He pledged to be loyal and dedicated to the party no matter the outcome of the party primary election.

“I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to be the first to collect and first to return the forms. We will continue to be loyal and dedicated party members, no matter the outcome of the primary. I hereby submit the expression of interest and nomination forms duly and accurately completed.’’He said.

The APC is in strong opposition with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) which has won every national election since the end of military rule in 1999, however the PDP is now deeply divided over President Goodluck Jonathan's bid for re-election next year.