[Al Jazeera] Nigeria's ruling Peoples Democratic Party has nominated incumbent Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate after fending off a primary challenge in the country's mainly Mohammedan north.
Jonathan's nomination on Friday allows him to stand in the April presidential elections, which are viewed as one of the most important in the history of Africa's most populous country.
The primary win for Jonathan means he has upended an arrangement within the PDP that rotates candidates between the north and south every two terms.
The incumbent had been expected to win the party primary, despite the challenge from Atiku Abubakar, a former vice-president who had the backing of a group of elite politicians from northern Nigeria.
| Good lord -- Nigeria has a Tea Party, too? |
In the end, Jonathan won handily with 2,736 votes compared to Abubakar's 805. A front man for Abubakar, however, alleged rigging and intimidation.
The PDP has won every presidential vote since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.| How jealous the Democrats must be. The Republicans, too, come to think of it. |
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