Nigerian party leader steps down

Ogbeh (l) fell out with Obasanjo (r) over Anambra state

The chairman of Nigeria's ruling party has resigned following a bitter row with President Olusegun Obasanjo.

People's Democratic Party chairman Audu Ogbeh has handed in his letter of resignation, his spokesman said.

Mr Ogbeh had disagreed with Mr Obasanjo over how to handle a crisis between rival party factions in the south-eastern Anambra state.

A BBC correspondent in Nigeria says the resignation raises question marks over the PDP's future unity.

Mr Ogbeh's spokesman Thompson Abu said he had resigned for personal reasons but did not elaborate.

In November, armed gangs ransacked the governor's office ahead of local elections.

Anambra has experienced unrest after Chris Ngige became governor in 2003 and fell out with his political backer.

Since then the two men have been locked in a violent power struggle.