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| Surprise at Nigerian party's pick | Surprise at Nigerian party's pick |
| (16 minutes later) | |
| Nigeria's ruling party has selected a little known northern Muslim governor, Umar Yar'Adua, as its candidate in next year's presidential elections. | Nigeria's ruling party has selected a little known northern Muslim governor, Umar Yar'Adua, as its candidate in next year's presidential elections. |
| The Katsina State governor rose to prominence after being backed by President Olusegun Obasanjo who stands down after two terms in office. | The Katsina State governor rose to prominence after being backed by President Olusegun Obasanjo who stands down after two terms in office. |
| His running mate will be a southern Christian governor Goodluck Jonathan, from the oil-rich Niger Delta. | His running mate will be a southern Christian governor Goodluck Jonathan, from the oil-rich Niger Delta. |
| There was bitter in-fighting among People's Democratic Party delegates. | There was bitter in-fighting among People's Democratic Party delegates. |
| The main opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) is now meeting to choose its candidate, with 2003 presidential election runner-up Muhammadu Buhari's influence on the wane. | |
| The former military ruler and Mr Yar¿Adua are kinsmen from Nigeria¿s north-western state of Katsina and the ANPP is hoping that this factor might help split the northern Muslim vote in next April¿s presidential election. | |
| Last week, the ANPP agreed to form an alliance with the Action Congress (AC) boosting their hopes of mounting a strong challenge. | Last week, the ANPP agreed to form an alliance with the Action Congress (AC) boosting their hopes of mounting a strong challenge. |
| The PDP has governed Nigeria since the end of military rule in 1999 and has built up a strong election machine. | The PDP has governed Nigeria since the end of military rule in 1999 and has built up a strong election machine. |
| The PDP candidate will start off as favourite to win, but his lack of political experience will give hope to rivals of an upset, say analysts. | The PDP candidate will start off as favourite to win, but his lack of political experience will give hope to rivals of an upset, say analysts. |
| Splits | Splits |
| Nigeria's population is roughly split between southern-based Christians and Muslims, who predominate in the north. Northerners say it is their turn to have the presidency after years of rule by Mr Obasanjo, a Christian. | |
| Profile: Umaru Yar'Adua | Profile: Umaru Yar'Adua |
| Most of the several thousand delegates left immediately after casting their votes, not waiting to hear the results or Mr Yar'Adua's victory speech, Reuters news agency reports. | Most of the several thousand delegates left immediately after casting their votes, not waiting to hear the results or Mr Yar'Adua's victory speech, Reuters news agency reports. |
| A former college lecturer, Mr Yar'Adua is one of the few governors not currently under investigation for corruption. | A former college lecturer, Mr Yar'Adua is one of the few governors not currently under investigation for corruption. |
| He also has a close family link to Nigeria's leader, for his brother was Mr Obasanjo's deputy when the president was military ruler during the 1970s. And the two men were in jail together during the rule of President Sani Abacha. | He also has a close family link to Nigeria's leader, for his brother was Mr Obasanjo's deputy when the president was military ruler during the 1970s. And the two men were in jail together during the rule of President Sani Abacha. |
| Splits | Splits |
| In his speech, Mr Yar'Adua said his nomination furthered the cause of democracy in Nigeria. | In his speech, Mr Yar'Adua said his nomination furthered the cause of democracy in Nigeria. |
| "I am overwhelmed by this great gesture," he said. | "I am overwhelmed by this great gesture," he said. |
| Since it was hastily formed some eight years ago, the PDP has had to cope with internal feuds that led to the exit of almost all its founding members. | Since it was hastily formed some eight years ago, the PDP has had to cope with internal feuds that led to the exit of almost all its founding members. |
| Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who was a key figure in the formation of the party was recently suspended following disagreements with Mr Obasanjo and allegations of corruption which he denies. | Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who was a key figure in the formation of the party was recently suspended following disagreements with Mr Obasanjo and allegations of corruption which he denies. |
| Some prominent candidates, including former military ruler Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, withdrew from the race before the conference. | Some prominent candidates, including former military ruler Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, withdrew from the race before the conference. |
| Presidential candidates for some 50 registered political parties are being announced by the end of the week. | Presidential candidates for some 50 registered political parties are being announced by the end of the week. |
| Next year's polls should become the first transfer of power from one elected leader to another since independence in 1960. | Next year's polls should become the first transfer of power from one elected leader to another since independence in 1960. |