http://za.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-12-24T082229Z_01_BAN430097_RTRIDST_0_OZATP-NIGERIA-VICEPRESIDENT-20061224.XML
Nigeria president replacing deputy Sun Dec 24, 2006 10:22 AM GMT15 ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has "technically resigned" by attending an opposition party convention and President Olusegun Obasanjo is seeking a replacement, a spokesman for Obasanjo said on Saturday. Abubakar accused Obasanjo of staging a coup and vowed to resist his removal in the courts, setting the stage for a constitutional showdown in Africa's top oil producer in the runup to elections in April. "By the actions of the vice president he has shown that he has technically resigned his position by ... attendance of the convention of Action Congress," Obasanjo's spokesman Uba Sani told reporters at the presidential palace. Action Congress chose Abubakar as its presidential candidate last week after the ruling party suspended him over a report accusing him of corruption, which has since been nullified by a court. "The president has embarked on a wide consultation with relevant bodies in an effort to select a new vice president in line with the provision of the 1999 constitution," Sani said. Obasanjo has accused his deputy of disloyalty and waged a campaign to stop Abubakar standing in next year's poll, which should mark the first fully democratic handover in Nigeria's coup-prone 46-year history as an independent nation. Sani said Obasanjo, who must step down next year, had withdrawn all privileges such as cars and security from his deputy and he called on Nigerians to remain calm. Abubakar, who is on holiday in the United States, said in an email statement to the media: "This latest unilateral and reckless action by the president must be seen by all Nigerians as a coup against our constitution." Analyst Sebastian Spio-Garbrah of Eurasia Group said the confusion could tempt the military to intervene. CONSTITUTION The constitution says the vice president should be from the same party as the president at the time of election, but it makes no provision for a subsequent defection. It says the vice president can be removed only by resignation, death, incapacity or impeachment. Sani said Obasanjo had taken steps to notify the National Assembly and electoral authorities of his decision. Obasanjo's election in 1999 marked a return to democracy after three decades of almost continuous army dictatorship in the West African oil giant. Any proposed replacement vice president would have to be approved by the Senate, which in May defeated an attempt by Obasanjo to rewrite the constitution and stay in power for a third term. The Senate is likely to demand a court ruling on the constitution before approving any replacement, a senior lawmaker said. There are recent cases of state governors, who are in the same constitutional position as the president and vice president, switching parties and holding on to their jobs. Abubakar says Obasanjo still wants to run the country after elections and needs to disqualify his candidacy to achieve this. "This is not about Atiku Abubakar. It is about democracy, rule of law and the future of Nigeria," Abubakar said, accusing Obasanjo of wanting to become "maximum leader". The PDP last weekend chose a little-known state governor with a kidney condition, Umaru Yar'Adua, as its presidential candidate in a vote regarded as being orchestrated by Obasanjo. It also amended the party constitution to make Obasanjo chairman after he retires with wide-ranging powers over government policy, party finances and membership. © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. +++ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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