Abuja: Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) declared President Goodluck Jonathan the winner of its presidential primaries on Friday, making him the firm favourite to win an April 9 general election.
"I declare Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to be the winner of this presidential primary," chief returning officer Tunde Adeniran told a party convention in the capital Abuja, shortly after the final votes were counted.
Jonathan cast himself as the leader able to change a nation blessed by natural resources but cursed by years of military dictatorships. However, the regional and religious tensions that flared up during the presidential primary exist across a country troubled by violence and extremism more than 40 years after the end of its brutal civil war.
As the candidate of the People's Democratic Party, Jonathan can expect the party to use its political connections, money and muscle to propel him to victory in Nigeria's unruly and corrupt electoral system. Since the handover in 1999 from military rule to a civilian government, politics in the West African nation have been dominated by the party.
"We have a chance to transform ourselves to be a great nation in the years ahead," Jonathan told delegates gathered for the convention Thursday night in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.
He offered a promise that won a cheer from the crowd: "Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and (Vice President) Nnmadi Sambo will never, never, never let you down."
