When Sultan Maccido was overlooked despite coming top of the list in 1988, there were riots in the streets of Sokoto.

BBC: The Sultan of Sokoto Mohammadu Maccido

They were from the ruling People's Democratic Party, winning polls in 2007 in Bayelsa, Cross River, Kogi, Adamawa and Sokoto and vote re-runs in 2008.

BBC: Nigeria's Supreme Court dismisses five governors

The kingmakers are to present a list of three names to Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, who is to choose the new sultan over the next few days.

BBC: The Sultan of Sokoto Mohammadu Maccido

The body of the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammadu Maccido - the spiritual leader of the country's estimated 70 million Muslims - was buried in Sokoto within hours of the crash.

BBC: Aftermath of the plane crash near Abuja airport in Nigeria

Dan Fodio's son, Muhammed Bello, established the empire's capital in Sokoto and it has remained the centre of Nigerian Islam ever since, with its huge mosque opposite the sultan's palace.

BBC: The Sultan of Sokoto Mohammadu Maccido

The new sultan will be chosen from Sokoto's ruling dynasty - descendents of Uthman Dan Fodio, who launched a jihad, or holy war, in 1804, spreading Islam across northern Nigeria and its neighbours.

BBC: The Sultan of Sokoto Mohammadu Maccido

British special forces were sent to the Sokoto area the day before the rescue attempt and the go-ahead was given by Cobra, the government's crisis committee, after a review of the intelligence led to fears for the men's safety.

BBC: Chris McManus

Our correspondent says the speakers of the respective state House of Assemblies will assume the governorships in Bayelsa and Cross River states in the south and Sokoto and Adamawa in the north until elections are held later in the year.

BBC: Nigeria's Supreme Court dismisses five governors

In Nigeria, Catholic bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who ministers to Sokoto in the northwest of the country, was "delighted" to hear that a Latin American pope had been elected by the cardinals in Rome, because he was not from Western powers who had dominated the papacy for so long.

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