The meeting is being seen as a test of the influence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is backing a candidate to become chairman.

Mr Obasanjo retains a powerful position within the structure of the People's Democratic Party.

President Umaru Yar'Adua is staying neutral on the issue of who will become party chairman.

Before leaving office, Mr Obasanjo became head of the PDP Board of Trustees - a virtually permanent position. He also ensured allies took other leadership posts.

Mr Obasanjo has openly backed one of his allies, Sam Egwu, to become party chairman.

'Incongruous'

But some groups within the PDP are campaigning against his choice and say they want to reduce the former president's influence within the party.

"It is incongruous," said Ken Nnamani, a member of the PDP National Executive Council.

"As an elder statesman he should be advising government in private. He should not hold a partisan position."

The PDP, which dominates the country's politics, won a large majority in disputed elections last year for the presidency, the legislature and state governors. President Umaru Yar'Adua was chosen by Mr Obasanjo to stand as his successor.

The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Mr Yar'Adua's decision to stay neutral on the leadership question at the convention may open the field considerably, not least as some powerful state governors may wish to have their own say.

Nigerian politics has never really been about ideology, he adds, but more about personal power and patronage so there is likely to be a lot of back-room dealing before the result is announced.

(BBC)

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