2010-04-25
ABUJA (Reuters) - An obscure Nigerian youth group said on Sunday it will carry on campaigning to elect Acting President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 national polls despite his request that it stop.

The race to be leader of Africa's most populous nation is wide open since ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua is unlikely to seek re-election. Elections are due by April next year.

The Northern Youth Movement for Positive Change began posting political posters, saying "Goodluck is the Positive Hope for Nigeria", throughout the capital Abuja on Friday.

Jonathan, who has not ruled out running in 2011, denied any connection to the youth group's campaign and urged them to stop.

"The acting president has not authorised any group to produce or paste campaign posters for him," said spokesman Ima Niboro on Sunday.

"He warns those behind the circulation of these posters to desist from the act because it is capable of causing distractions."

The youth group, which confirmed having no connection to Jonathan, said it believed the acting president has already proven to be a good leader since assuming executive powers in Yar'Adua's absence two months ago.

"We believe (Jonathan) can deliver. There are no fuel queues and light and electricity are normal," Dogara Bassa, the group's secretary, told Reuters.

CONTINUE TO CAMPAIGN

Despite the acting president's request to stop its campaign, the group plans to put up political posters in Kano, Bauchi and other major northern Nigerian cities.

Bassa said it receives funding from the group's members, which he claimed number hundreds of thousands. This could not be independently verified.

Former military leader Ibrahim Babangida, who ruled Nigeria from 1985-1993 and is known locally as "IBB", is so far the only major politician to announce his intention to run for president as the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

His campaign posters, saying "IBB, We Believe", can also be seen throughout Abuja.

The PDP, which has won every presidential election since Nigeria's return to democracy just over a decade ago, has not yet chosen its presidential candidate.

The party's presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja still prominently displays a political billboard from Yar'Adua's successful run in 2007.