Tanzania's ruling party Sunday said it had chosen public works minister John Pombe Magufuli as its presidential candidate, making him the favorite to replace Jakaya Kikwete in the upcoming October election.
The Party of Revolution, known by the acronym CCM, said Magufuli won an internal party poll over two other candidates, African Union ambassador to the U.S. Amina Salum Ali and former U.N. Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro.
Magufuli's running mate in the Oct. 25 general election is Samia Hassan Suluhi, the minister of state in the vice president's office.
CCM has been in power for five decades, and analysts say Magufuli is likely to see off a challenge by a coalition of four opposition parties to become Tanzania's next president.
Benson Bana, a political scientist at the University of Dar es Salaam, said Magufuli's track record of 20 years in government has earned him wide recognition and much popular support.
"He is a no-nonsense kind of person, and this the public knows from his track record," he said.
-AP
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