Spokesman: Former Nigerian military leader Babangida wants to run for president next year

Ex-Nigerian military leader to seek presidency

ABUJA, Nigeria — A spokesman for former Nigerian military leader Ibrahim Babangida says he wants to run for president next year.

The former military ruler will seek the nomination of the governing People’s Democratic Party, or PDP, Kassim Afegbua said Monday.

Key Nigerian politicians have started positioning themselves ahead of polls expected to held early next year. The PDP’s leadership usually rotates its presidential candidates among Nigeria’s Christians and Muslims.

President Umaru Yar’Adua, a Muslim from Nigeria’s north, has been ailing for more than five months.

This has fueled debate about whether another Muslim should be the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2011. Goodluck Jonathan, who is the current acting president, is a Christian.