About 7.4 million Nigeriens voted in Niger Republic’s presidential and legislative elections on Sunday.
Partial results for the presidential election are expected to be announced on Monday with final counts on Wednesday or Thursday.
A total of 30 candidates slugged it out in the presidential race, including Mohamed Bazoum, the favourite candidate of the incumbent president, Mahamadou Issoufu.
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Other contestants are Seini Oumarou of National Movement for Social Development (MNSD), Boubacar Cissé of Union for Democracy and Republic, Mahamane Ousmane of Renewed Democratic and Republican Party (Renouveau Démocratique et Républicain), and Ibrahim Yacouba of Patriotic Movement of Niger (MPN) among others.
A second round, if necessary, will be held in February.
Free and fair elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), reiterated its readiness to conduct free and fair elections, despite security challenges in some parts of the country and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to BBC Hausa service, the Chairman of CENI in Damagaram, Justice Shehu Musa, said “All the necessary arrangements are being made for the election to run smoothly and we don’t foresee any problem.
“We have distributed the necessary materials on time and we are ready for successful poll.”
In the first round of the presidential election, a successful winner is expected to get 50.1% of the total votes to be declared president.
However, if no candidate scores 50.1% of the votes, CENI will organize a second round of election between the two top candidates to determine the winner of the election.
Also, 171 House of Assembly members were voted for in Sunday’s parliamentary election.
