The ruling party’s presidential candidate in Niger, Mohamed Bazoum is holding a large lead in the early results from Sunday’s election, as Nigeriens patiently await presidential election results.
The National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) continued to announce results on Tuesday from various municipalities, and broadcast on television and radio.
The commission had released results of 20 municipalities out of 266 in the country as of late afternoon Tuesday some say it is impossible to gauge the outcome of the Sunday vote by that figure.
Niger electoral commission spokesperson told news agency AFP that final results should be released either Wednesday or Thursday. The commission recorded no serious incident on Sunday.
Nearly 7.5 million voters turn out for the vote in a country of 23 million people. 30 candidates including two former presidents and two former prime ministers contested. If none of the 30 candidates receives a majority of the first-round vote, a run-off will be held in February. The election observation mission of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) gave Niger a satisfactory report, stating in a communiqué that “the first round took place in a generally satisfactory manner’’. Outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou said Sunday: “whoever wins, the victory will belong to the people of Niger.
Bazoum, a former interior minister, is considered a strong favourite to succeed president Mahamadou Issoufou, who is stepping down after two five-year terms.
A smooth handover would mark the first transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents. Niger has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960.
The new president will face rising violence from Islamist militants whose attacks have killed hundred of civilians and soldiers in the last year alone, although few security incidents were reported on election day.
