20110115
reuters

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan won a decisive victory in ruling party primaries on Friday, including in key states in the mostly Muslim north, but his main rival's camp refused to accept the result.

Jonathan's selection as the People's Democratic Party candidate makes him clear favourite to win the presidential election on April 9 as the PDP has won every such poll in Africa's most populous nation since military rule ended in 1999.

In a stark demonstration of the power of incumbency, Jonathan trounced rival Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, in all but a handful of the country's 36 states.

"The People's Democratic Party has spoken with one strong voice ... Our people have chosen the unity of our country above all other considerations," Jonathan, dressed in his trademark fedora and caftan-like attire, said in an acceptance speech.

Jonathan won 2,736 votes compared to 805 for Abubakar in Thursday's vote, said chief returning officer Tunde Adeniran.

But Abubakar's camp questioned the conduct of the poll.

"His agents ... declined to sign the final results on account of lapses observed during the Thursday primaries," his campaign team said in a statement, adding Abubakar had not yet decided on his next line of action.

"The former Vice President still has a lot to offer and this it not the time to write him off," they said.