Nigeria's opposition accuses Jonathan of “arrogance”

Three of Nigeria's main opposition candidates – Gen Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC); Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); and Ibrahim Shekarau of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) – have pulled out of election debates with President Goodluck Jonathan on account of Jonathan's “arrogance”.

Jonathan declined to take part in a debate last week, organised by NN24 TV, saying he would only participate in a debate organised by Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON). The other candidates have voiced their concern over Jonathan's affiliation with BON, saying it was somewhat "suspicious".

The three candidates released a joint statement, saying: “We state without ambiguity that our principals will not honour any debate session with President Jonathan in the 2011 elections as he has arrogantly shunned the credible debate for which we made ourselves available. We wish to clear the air on the matter of the presidential debate organised by NN24 so that our teeming supporters and Nigerians in general will understand and appreciate our position.”

Jonathan, who inherited power last year after president Umaru Yar'Adua died, is the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) which has won every national poll since 1999. Elections for the National Assembly are scheduled for 2nd April.

Sources: BBC News, Afrique en Ligue, AFP

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

President Jonathan wins ruling party primary

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has won ruling party primaries, making him the number one favourite to win in the April elections. Jonathan managed to secure an overwhelming 77 per cent in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) primary, despite grumbles among some delegates about the need to choose a northerner.

Jonathan's main opponent, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, was backed by some of the key powerbrokers from the Muslim north. Jonathan, who is from the predominantly Christian Niger Delta, sparked controversy when he decided to run for re-election because of the power sharing agreement which stipulates power rotation between the north and the south every two terms.

Jonathan, who became leader after the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua in May 2010, won 2,736 votes to Abubakar's 805. The third candidate, Sarah Jibril, only managed to secure a single vote. Speaking about the outcome, Jonathan said that the PDP had “spoken with one strong voice."

An official for Abubakar's camp complained of irregularities in the vote, accusing Jonathan's allies of conspiring to "fish out" anyone who votes against him, however, after the results were announced Abubakar shook Jonathan's hand and congratulated him on his victory.

Sources: BBC News, CNN, Bloomberg

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

President Goodluck Jonathan entitled to run for office says PDP

Nigeria’s governing party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), has conceded that President Goodluck Jonathan is entitled to stand in next year's elections, despite the unwritten PDP practice of alternating power between the north and the south of the country.

Jonathan, a southerner, was sworn in as president when president Umaru Yar'Adua died in May 2010, half way through the north's turn of two presidential terms.

"The party believes that Dr Goodluck Jonathan as part and parcel of the joint ticket has the right to contest the presidential primaries for the 2010 elections," said, PDP chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Jonathan remains silent about whether or not he will run for office next year. Many have noted that despite his popularity his chances of winning will depend on whether or not he will be willing to address a number of important issues such as corruption and the electricity crisis.

Source: BBC News

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.