Nigerian Presidency

(Lagos, Nigeria) Breaking! Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has announced his candidacy in next January's presidential election.

The announcement appeared on Mr. Jonathan's Facebook page and a formal declaration is scheduled for Saturday.

Mr. Jonathan's bid to lead Africa's most populous country runs counter to political convention. There's an unwritten agreement in Mr. Jonathan's ruling party, the People's Democratic Party, that power will rotate between mostly Muslim northern Nigeria and mostly Christian southern Nigeria every two terms.

Mr. Jonathan, a southerner, formally took over for former president Umaru Yar'Adua, a northerner, when the latter died in May during his first term.

Goodluck Jonathan's announcement may lead to anger among the Northern Nigerian Muslims since he's breaking from tradition. It's reported that powerful Muslim Nigerians oppose his candidacy. The possibility of Muslim vs. Christian violence cannot be ruled out.

As a major global exporter of oil and gas, Nigerian political turmoil would likely have wide impact.