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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Nigeria opposition pick candidate | Nigeria opposition pick candidate |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Some 5,000 delegates from the main opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) have met in Abuja to select its presidential election candidate. | Some 5,000 delegates from the main opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) have met in Abuja to select its presidential election candidate. |
| Six of the seven nominees stood aside to allow the former military leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, to become the party's representative. | Six of the seven nominees stood aside to allow the former military leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, to become the party's representative. |
| Opposition party Action Congress is expected to meet on Wednesday in Lagos. | Opposition party Action Congress is expected to meet on Wednesday in Lagos. |
| On Sunday, Katsina state governor Umaru Yar'Adua was selected by the ruling party to contest the April 2007 poll. | On Sunday, Katsina state governor Umaru Yar'Adua was selected by the ruling party to contest the April 2007 poll. |
| We have the people, we have the support... all we need by the grace of God is free and fair elections Muhammadu Buhari | We have the people, we have the support... all we need by the grace of God is free and fair elections Muhammadu Buhari |
| The reclusive northerner will be viewed as favourite having received support from outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo, leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). | |
| In his acceptance speech, Gen Buhari - who lost to President Obasanjo in 2003 - promised to run an all-inclusive government if elected next April. | In his acceptance speech, Gen Buhari - who lost to President Obasanjo in 2003 - promised to run an all-inclusive government if elected next April. |
| "We have the people, we have the support of Nigerians, we have the programmes. All we need by the grace of God is free and fair elections," Gen Buhari said. | "We have the people, we have the support of Nigerians, we have the programmes. All we need by the grace of God is free and fair elections," Gen Buhari said. |
| Gen Buhari's claim that the 2003 presidential elections were rigged was rejected by the Supreme Court last year. | Gen Buhari's claim that the 2003 presidential elections were rigged was rejected by the Supreme Court last year. |
| The political rivals are kinsmen from Nigeria's north-western state of Katsina and the ANPP is hoping that this factor might help split the northern Muslim vote in next year's polls. | The political rivals are kinsmen from Nigeria's north-western state of Katsina and the ANPP is hoping that this factor might help split the northern Muslim vote in next year's polls. |
| Deals | Deals |
| The other main opposition party - the Action Congress party (AC) - is due to meet on Wednesday in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos. | The other main opposition party - the Action Congress party (AC) - is due to meet on Wednesday in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos. |
| President Obasanjo is standing down after two termsVice-President Atiku Abubakar is expected to seek nomination as AC's presidential candidate. | President Obasanjo is standing down after two termsVice-President Atiku Abubakar is expected to seek nomination as AC's presidential candidate. |
| Mr Abubakar who was a key figure in the formation of the governing PDP was recently suspended following disagreements with Mr Obasanjo and allegations of corruption which he denies. | Mr Abubakar who was a key figure in the formation of the governing PDP was recently suspended following disagreements with Mr Obasanjo and allegations of corruption which he denies. |
| Last week, the ANPP and AC formed an electoral pact, agreeing not to run rival candidates against each other in an attempt to counter the formidable election machinery of the PDP. | Last week, the ANPP and AC formed an electoral pact, agreeing not to run rival candidates against each other in an attempt to counter the formidable election machinery of the PDP. |
| A BBC correspondent says there is little ideological difference between the parties, which are mostly divided by personality and patronage. | A BBC correspondent says there is little ideological difference between the parties, which are mostly divided by personality and patronage. |
| The PDP candidate will start off as favourite to win, but his lack of political experience will give hope to rivals of an upset, say analysts. | The PDP candidate will start off as favourite to win, but his lack of political experience will give hope to rivals of an upset, say analysts. |
| Splits | Splits |
| Nigeria's population is roughly split between southern-based Christians and Muslims who predominate in the north. Northerners say it is their turn to have the presidency after years of rule by Mr Obasanjo, a Christian. | Nigeria's population is roughly split between southern-based Christians and Muslims who predominate in the north. Northerners say it is their turn to have the presidency after years of rule by Mr Obasanjo, a Christian. |
| Profile of contenders | Profile of contenders |
| A former college lecturer, Mr Yar'Adua is one of the few governors not currently under investigation for corruption. | A former college lecturer, Mr Yar'Adua is one of the few governors not currently under investigation for corruption. |
| He also has a close family link to Nigeria's leader - his brother was Mr Obasanjo's deputy when the president was military ruler during the 1970s. And the two men were in jail together during the rule of President Sani Abacha. | He also has a close family link to Nigeria's leader - his brother was Mr Obasanjo's deputy when the president was military ruler during the 1970s. And the two men were in jail together during the rule of President Sani Abacha. |
| His running mate will be a southern Christian governor Goodluck Jonathan, from the oil-rich Niger Delta. | His running mate will be a southern Christian governor Goodluck Jonathan, from the oil-rich Niger Delta. |
| In his speech, Mr Yar'Adua said his nomination furthered the cause of democracy in Nigeria. | In his speech, Mr Yar'Adua said his nomination furthered the cause of democracy in Nigeria. |
| Since it was hastily formed some eight years ago, the PDP has had to cope with internal feuds that led to the exit of almost all its founding members. | Since it was hastily formed some eight years ago, the PDP has had to cope with internal feuds that led to the exit of almost all its founding members. |
| Presidential candidates for some 50 registered political parties are being announced by the end of the week. | Presidential candidates for some 50 registered political parties are being announced by the end of the week. |
| Next year's polls should become the first transfer of power from one elected leader to another since independence in 1960. | Next year's polls should become the first transfer of power from one elected leader to another since independence in 1960. |