
Current Minister of Works John Magufuli has been named as CCM’s presidential candidate. Photo: Twitter
Ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has named it’s presidential candidate: Minister of Works, John Magufuli.
The three finalists in the race for the top spot were Minister of Works John Magufuli, Constitutional and Legal Affairs Minister Asha-Rose Migiro and African Union Ambassador to the United States Amina Salum Ali.
Magufuli received 87 percent of the votes, while Migiro received 10 percent of the votes and Salum received 3 percent of the votes, CCM tweeted Sunday morning.
CCM sought out the best leader for the party and each of the final three candidates met that requirement, says President Jakaya Kikwete, who is also CCM Chairman, speaking at the general assembly in Dodoma on Saturday night.
In total, 38 hopefuls stepped forward in their bid to replace Kikwete, who is wrapping up his second and final term in office.
In a move that has reportedly divided some senior party members, former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa was not named as a finalist by the party.
Zanzibar’s CCM candidate is Ali Mohamed Shein, the current President of Zanzibar.
CCM has ruled Tanzania for over 50 years.
The election is to be held on October 25, 2015.