**Both houses of Nigeria’s parliament have voted to confirm the appointment of Kaduna state governor Namadi Sambo as the country’s new vice-president.**Mr Sambo, a northerner, was nominated for the post last week following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Mr Yar’Adua was succeeded by his vice-president, Goodluck Jonathan.
Analysts say the new vice-president will be seen as a strong contender for the 2011 presidential elections in Africa’s most populous nation.
However, it remains unclear whether Mr Jonathan will seek to contest the elections on behalf of the governing People’s Democratic Party.
The new president is a southerner and the PDP has said its candidate will be a northerner - continuing its practice of alternating power between north and south after two four-year terms.
Mr Yar’Adua, who was a northerner, died before his first term ended.
Procedural argument
The BBC’s Ahmed Idris in Abuja says there were rowdy scenes in the House of Representatives, the lower house of Nigeria’s parliament, on Tuesday as it was asked for the first time to approve the appointment of a vice-president.
The confirmation hearing was held up for nearly half an hour as lawmakers argued on procedure, some even suggesting it be suspended to allow for consultation with constitutional experts, our correspondent says.
At one point, those supporting the Kaduna governor began singing, “Give us Sambo”, while House speaker Dimeji Bankole repeatedly called for order.
“I am pleading with colleagues to please to take their seats and take this matter with all sense of patriotism,” Mr Bankole said at one point.
Eventually, the House confirmed Mr Sambo as vice-president. Senators had earlier approved him unanimously in a vote that lasted three minutes.
Correspondents say that prior to his nomination, Mr Sambo was not a prominent politician, did not have a big power base, and his name did not figure in public speculation about likely vice-presidents.
Married with six children, he is an architect and an ally of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, who intends to seek the presidency.
Some analysts say he may have been chosen because he would not pose a threat to President Jonathan.This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
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