President Goodluck Jonathan swore in three new ministers on Wednesday, including two opposition members from the country’s mainly Muslim north ahead of elections early next year.
The moves come with Jonathan, a Christian from the south, facing a dispute within the ruling People’s Democratic Party over whether it will back him as its candidate. Some argue the party should field a northern politician.
It also means two more women will be part of Jonathan’s cabinet.
Junior finance minister Remi Babalola was reassigned after having recently stirred controversy by declaring the state petroleum firm insolvent — a claim other ministers later publicly disputed.
Jonathan named Yabawa Lawan Wabi, of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party and from northern Borno state, to replace Babalola, who has been moved to the special duties portfolio.
Salamatu Suleiman, from northern Kebbi state and also an ANPP member, was appointed junior foreign minister, while Kenneth Gbagi, from Delta state in the oil-rich south, took over the education portfolio as junior minister.
Jonathan was sworn in after president Umaru Yar’Adua’s death in May and is widely expected to run in presidential elections set for early next year.
The ruling party has traditionally alternated its backing every two terms between candidates from the north and south as a way of smoothing over ethnic, religious and social divides in Africa’s most populous nation.
According to some, the party should back another northern candidate since Yar’Adua did not finish out his term.