Nigerian leader gets a lift

Voter registration was problematic earlier this year

Nigeria's ruling party has announced that its presidential candidate in next year's elections will be from the south.

President Olusegun Obasanjo is from the south and is standing for re-election.

Nigeria's divisions between a largely Muslim north and mainly Christian south were recently highlighted in religious riots in the northern city of Kaduna, which left more than 200 people dead.

Nigeria was governed by a succession of northern military rulers until Mr Obasanjo won multi-party elections in 1999.

Presidential, parliamentary and local elections are due to be held between 29 March and 29 April but not necessarily on the same day.

'Wild goose chase'

Several northern candidates, including former Communications Minister Abubakar Rimi, have declared an interest in running for the presidency.

Obasanjo is standing for re-election

But Yohanna Madaki, PDP legal advisor, said: "Anyone notwithstanding this warning, who wishes to embark on a wild goose chase, takes a... gamble at the risk of his reputation."

Although this announcement will boost Mr Obasanjo, he is still expected to face a strong challenge, both for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) nomination and in the election itself.

In 1999, Mr Obasanjo won with the help of northern power brokers but he has lost some support in the Muslim north over his opposition to the reintroduction of Sharia law.

Former vice president Alex Ekwueme will again vie for the PDP nomination. He lost out to Mr Obasanjo in 1999, when the PDP nomination was also reserved for southerners.

Primaries for the PDP nomination are expected in January 2003.

Religious disputes

Nigeria's electoral commission last week registered 22 new political parties for the elections.

Just three formations were allowed to contest the 1999 poll.

They had to prove they had support across Nigeria in order to avoid the creation of regional or ethnically-based parties.

Since the return of civilian rule, several thousand people have been killed in ethnic and religious disputes.