Democracy News

President Jonathan Wins Nigerian Primary
January 14, 2011
By: Chinyelu Odunze | Printer Friendly

On January 14, 2011, current President Goodluck Jonathan won by a landslide in the country's ruling-party primary, making him the favorite for the general elections in April.  CNN reports that the president got 77.7% of the vote in the People's Democratic Party primary, election officials said. 

He beat rival Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president supported by a group of influential northern leaders. Jonathan is from the Niger Delta in the Christian-dominated south while Abubakar is from the majority Muslim north.

The incumbent’s candidacy has been controversial because of the ruling party’s unofficial zoning agreement that aims to rotate power between the north and the south every two terms.  Jonathan, then the vice president, inherited the presidency when President Umaru Yar'Adua, a northerner, died during his first term last year. Some in the ruling party have said a northerner should have replaced Yar'Adua to honor the zoning agreement.

Regardless, he has defied the ruling People's Democratic Party's tradition of adhering to the zoning agreement.  BBC News claims that since Mr. Jonathan has won every poll, despite allegations of fraud, he is likely to be elected to the presidency in April.

Sources:
BBC – Profile: Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan

BBC News - Nuhu Ribadu Chosen as Action Congress Nigeria candidate

CNN – Nigerian President Wins Party Primary

Wall Street Journal – Nigerian President Wins Primary