Nigeria PDP wants Muslim for poll

Abuja, 04 March-(ANA)-Nigeria's ruling party wants a Muslim from the north as its candidate in next year's presidential election, ruling out acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

The People's Democratic Party said a southern Christian had led Nigeria for eight years and that it was "proper" for a northern Muslim to do the same.

PDP leaders have agreed that candidates must alternate between the two faiths.

Mr Jonathan, a Christian from the Niger Delta, is in charge as Umaru Yar'Adua, a Muslim, recovers from ill-health.

The 58-year-old president returned from a hospital in Saudi Arabia last week, but his condition is unknown and it is unclear when he could resume official duties.

Nigeria's 155 million-strong population is split roughly in half between Christians in the south and Muslims in the north.

Under an unwritten power-sharing agreement within the PDP, the party's candidates for the presidency should alternate between north and south after every two terms in office.

Mr Yar'Adua, a Muslim from the northern state of Katsina, became president in 2007, succeeding Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian who served two terms.

"The south had the presidency for eight years and it is proper to allow the north to have the presidency for eight years," PDP national chairman Vincent Ogbulafor told reporters after a meeting with officials late on Tuesday.

The president has not been seen in public since late November, when he left Nigeria for treatment of what his doctor described as acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.

Despite his ill-health, Mr Yar'Adua did not follow the constitutional steps that would have granted his vice-president temporary powers in his absence.

It was only on 9 February that the National Assembly appointed Mr Jonathan as acting president, allowing him to sign legislation, chair cabinet meetings, reshuffle ministers and release oil funds.

Last Wednesday, Mr Yar'Adua was flown back to Abuja, again causing confusion among officials despite a statement from his spokesman that Mr Jonathan would continue to serve as acting president.

Mr Jonathan, who has not said whether he intends to seek the presidency, has not seen the seriously-ill leader since he returned.

"Goodluck Jonathan is steering the ship of the nation very well. He is not an ambitious person," Mr Ogbulafor said.

"The president just came back and he has given him time to recuperate. He will see him at the appropriate time." (ANA)

FA/ANA/04 March 2010-----