Embattled Nigerian president announces re-election bid

Nigeria's president has formally declared that he will seek a second term of office, just a day after a suicide bomber killed nearly 50 people and reinforced fears of violence marring next year's general election.

Goodluck Jonathan has been head of state of Africa's most populous nation, and leading oil producer since 2010, when he took over following the death of President Umara Yar'Adua. He won the following year’s election, but critics have said since then, Jonathan had failed to stem a bloody insurgency by Boko Haram — the feared armed group thought to have carried out Monday’s attack on a school, as well as numerous other deliberate attacks on civilians in recent months.

In announcing his intention to stand again, Jonathan vowed to “win the war on terror,”

"I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to present myself on the platform of the PDP," he told supporters of his Peoples Democratic Party at a mass rally in the capital Abuja on Tuesday.

His supporters took out four-page newspaper advertisements this week, calling for Nigerians to "be a witness to history" and saying Jonathan's candidacy was "in response to Nigerians' demand.”

"Nigerians endorsed Goodluck Jonathan for continuity," the adverts ran, claiming that more than 17.8 million had so far endorsed his candidacy.

But for the country's main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Jonathan's tenure has been far from a success, particularly on security and his perceived failure to tackle Boko Haram.

Violence by the group has claimed more than 10,000 lives in five years and Jonathan has in recent months seen the apparent loss of more than a dozen towns to fighters in the far northeast.

Jonathan also came under fire for his lackluster response to the mass abduction of 276 schoolgirls in April and his decision to be seen partying 24 hours after the kidnapping.

According to reports, 219 girls are still missing.

In his speech in Abuja on Tuesday, Jonathan addressed the issue of Boko Haram and the abductions.

"This has cast a dark cloud over our nation, but we will surely win the war on terror," he said.

"We will surely get our daughters freed and defeat terror in our country."

Al Jazeera and wire services