Obasanjo wins 'charade' nomination

President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, whose election ended 15 years of brutal military rule, won the ruling party's nomination yesterday in presidential primaries that his main rival called charade.

Mr Obasanjo defeated three challengers to the People's Democratic Party choice in elections to be held on 19 April, winning 77 per cent of the vote, Tom Kimi, the party's chief electoral officer, said. The President's nearest rival, former vice-president Alex Ekwueme, garnered 17.8 per cent. Barnabas Gemade, a former party leader, and Abubakar Rimi, a former state governor and communications minister, had less than 5 per cent apiece.

The participation of rivals "enriched the nomination process", Mr Obasanjo said in his acceptance speech. "I will work with our party leaders to bring about reconciliation, soothing of nerves, the easing of tension and generally to restore harmony in the party, without losing discipline," he said. Vice-President Atiku Abubakar would again be his running mate.

His rivals called the nomination a "mere charade" and "a rubber stamp".