Dauda Abubakar is Vistiting Professor in the Department of political Science, Ohio University. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2001, he was Visiting Fellow at the Center for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi, India during which he conducted comparative research on democracy and diversity in India and Nigeria.

Dr. Abubakar's areas of specialization include comparative politics and international relations with thematic focus on issues of democratization, identity politics, nationalism, international security, conflict and conflict resolution, human rights and sustainable development in the global south. He has conducted extensive Ford Foundation-sponsored research in Nigeria on ethno-religious identity formation and the challenges of democratic consolidation. His chapter contribution titled "The Authoritarian State in Post-Colonial Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria 1983-95" has been published in an edited volume, Rwomire, A (2001) Social Problems in Africa. Westport, CT: Praeger; as well as "Federal Character Principle, Consociationalism and Democratic Stability in Nigeria" in Kunle, A (1997) Federalism and Political Restructuring in Nigeria. Ibadan:Spectrum/IFRA; and "Leadership and the Challenges of Rebuilding a Nation" in Larry Diamond, et. al (2004) Nigeria's Struggle for Democracy and Good Governance. Ibadan: University Press.

He has made several presentations at professional conferences, including the African Studies Association, as well as the International Studies Association, and also published in an array of refereed journal, such as African Issues and the Journal of Development Alternatives. He is working on a book project titled: Oil, State and Democracy in Nigeria 1985-2005.