AKIPRESS.COM - Former Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has been nominated to run for office again in October's elections despite currently being in jail on a 12-year sentence for corruption, AFP reported.
Some 2,000 members of his Workers Party declared him their candidate by a show of hands in Sao Paulo.
Lula leads most opinion polls but may not be allowed to stand.
He has denied taking bribes and says his conviction is part of a plot to prevent him returning to power.
A message from the former leader was read to party members, many wearing Lula masks, who had gathered for a convention in Brazil's main city.
"They want to scrap the people's right to choose the president," the message said, quoted by AFP.
"They want to create a democracy without the people. We have an enormous responsibility ahead."
The party is not expected to name Lula's running mate until Monday.