Nigeria's ruling party confirms ex-governor as new leader

Nigeria's ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday confirmed that an ex-governor of northeastern state of Bauchi had been unanimously selected to pilot the affairs of the national PDP. Former Chairman Bamanga Tukur resigned on Thursday. President Goodluck Jonathan, who announced the resignation of Tukur at the political group's meeting last week, had hinted that a new chairman would emerge on Monday. Quoting party sources, Xinhua had earlier reported ahead of a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, that Adamu Mua'zu, a two- term former governor of Bauchi State, had been appointed. Muazu was formally presented to the party members at the meeting on Monday. The former governor immediately took the oath of office and assumed duties as the new leader of the political party. He was adopted at a meeting of President Jonathan and governors of the ruling party late Sunday. The former governor was considered for the top party seat ahead of other candidates from the northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria because he is perceived to have unshaken loyalty to the PDP, a platform on which he served as governor from 1999 to 2007. Though relatively young, he is described as one of the more experienced, moderate, benign and reasonable voices in the party. Muazu is expected to use his wherewithal as loyal party man and ex-governor to bring back former party leaders and founding members who had defected to opposition parties due to the crisis that has plagued the PDP for more than 12 months now. Crucial among other major tasks for which he was considered, Muazu is expected to prepare the ruling party for the 2015 general elections in the West African country. The party had been embroiled in various crises that engulfed former party leader Tukur. The crises had dwindled the fortunes of the party which claims to be the largest political group in Africa. Tukur was forced to resign last week as storms gathered against him and party members failed to pass a vote of confidence for him to remain in office. With the emergence of Muazu, the party had carefully chosen a man from the northeast origin of Tukur, to avoid further crisis, sources said. The PDP had gained and remained in power at the center since Nigeria's transition to civilian rule in 1999.