Posted by BBC News on
Nigeria's former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida has announced he will be a candidate in the presidential election due to be held in April 2007.
In a press interview, he accused the country's present political elite of fuelling ethnic and religious violence.
Mr Babangida governed Nigeria for eight years until 1993.
He was toppled from power by mass protests after he annulled elections that were widely seen as having been won by a businessman, Moshood Abiola.
"I will contest in the election. Under the banner of the Nigerian people," Mr Babangida said in an interview with Reuters and the London newspaper the Financial Times.
Mr Babangida is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), but it is far from certain whether the party would back him as its presidential candidate.
Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is also believed to be seeking the PDP nomination.
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