Nigerian opposition picks military man

Nigeria's elections could increase regional divisions

Nigeria's former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari will be the main opposition party's challenger for the presidency.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Military ruler of Nigeria from 1984 to 1985

Deposed in a coup

Poor human rights record

Seen as honest

Muslim from northern Nigeria

Running mate is Chuba Okadigbo, from south-east

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His selection has set up a direct clash with President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was picked as his party's candidate for the April polls.

Both men are former military rulers. Mr Obasanjo is a Christian from the south-west, General Buhari represents the Muslim north.

The presidential election will be the first time that a civilian administration has organised elections for 19 years.

Thirty parties will contest the poll but General Buhari's All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and Mr Obasanjo's People's Democratic Party (PDP) are seen as the strongest groupings.

General Buhari was one of 12 candidates standing at the ANPP convention in the capital, Abuja.

However, he became the only candidate after his rivals either withdrew or failed to turn up. He gained 4,328 ballots, with just 30 voting against him.

Some fear that he may promote the interests of Muslims over Christians but he immediately moved to counter these fears.

"If given the mandate, I will serve faithfully without discrimination on account of sex, religion or ethnicity."

Split feared

But former Information Minister John Nwodo complained that the nomination process was unfair.

"The process of this election has been characterised by ethnicity," he said.

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

1937: Born in south-west; a Christian and a Yoruba

1976-79: Military ruler

1995-98: Jailed by military regime

1999: Elected president

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Some observers fear that the elections will divide Nigeria along regional lines.

President Obasanjo was selected on Monday as the candidate of the PDP.

He has lost the support of the northern power brokers who backed his successful 1999 campaign.

And his opposition to the introduction of Sharia punishments has alienated many ordinary northern Muslims.

They may rally behind a strong northern candidate, such as Mr Buhari.

Ethnic politics

Communities in the south-east feel that it is their turn to provide Nigeria's leader.

Alex Ekwueme from the south-east claimed that the PDP primaries were rigged after Mr Obasanjo won more than 70% of the votes.

Mr Nwodo is also from the south-east.

In an attempt to gain support in the south-east, General Buhari's running mate Chuba Okadigbo is an ethnic Igbo from the south-east.

The BBC's Sola Odunfa in Lagos says that many in the south-west, who did not support Mr Obasanjo in 1999, have now rallied behind the president's re-election campaign.

Our correspondent says Mr Obasanjo's nomination puts him in a strong position to secure a second term in office, despite the widespread dissatisfaction at high levels of corruption, violence and poverty.

Mr Obasanjo's running mate is northern Vice President Atiku Abubakar.