Nigeria leader 'chooses deputy'

Abuja, 13 May-(ANA)-Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has named Kaduna state governor Namadi Sambo as his new vice-president, reports say.

Mr Sambo, 57, must now be approved by both houses of parliament.

The move follows the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua and the swearing-in of his successor Mr Jonathan last week.

Whoever is named as vice-president is seen as a strong contender for the 2011 presidential elections in Africa's most populous nation, analysts say.

It remains unclear whether Mr Jonathan will seek to contest the elections on behalf of the governing People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Jonathan is a southerner and the PDP has said its candidate will be a northerner - continuing its practice of alternating power between north and south.

Mr Sambo is from the north but there have been strong suggestions that Mr Jonathan may try to overturn the PDP tradition.

Mr Sambo is a qualified architect who became governor only in 2007. (ANA)

FA/ANA/13 May 2010-----------