Thursday, June 01, 2006

Nigerian VP Atiku announces candidacy for Pres

Atiku Abubakar will run as the PDP (People's Democratic Party) candidate, the party currently led by President Obasanjo.

Reuters has the story:

Abubakar, 59, is a Muslim from a minority tribe in northeast Nigeria. He is a political veteran of more than two decades who has business interests in oil, insurance and pharmaceuticals.

He had been a leading Obasanjo supporter in the past, but his opposition to a third term for the president could harm his own ambitions. Analysts expect Obasanjo to try to undermine his campaign and stop him from getting the party ticket.

For an analysis of what a northern Muslim presidency might mean, see here.

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