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On Friday, former Minister Mohamed Bazoum appeared poised to be confirmed with a solid lead after the first round of the weekend’s presidential vote in Niger, as the electoral commission said it will reveal the results on Saturday.
The commission had tentatively reserved Friday for the release of the results, but said this would now occur at 10 am (0900 GMT) on Saturday at the Palais des Congres in Niamey.
Interim results for 30 contenders in total showed that Bazoum, a close ally of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, garnered 1.4 million votes, to 675,000 for former President Mahamane Ousmane, backed by the main opposition leader Hama Amadou, who did not was able to appear due to a criminal conviction.
Former Prime Ministers Seini Oumarou and Albade Abouba, respectively, were on track to get 345,000 and 260,000 votes.
Insecurity overshadowed the campaign, with Niger hit by jihadists on its southwestern border with Mali, as well as on its southeastern border with Nigeria. Five years of violence have cost hundreds of lives and many more have been displaced.
Bazoum, 60, a former interior and foreign minister, hopes to achieve victory in the first round, which would be the first in the former French colony that also hopes to see a first peaceful handover between elected presidents.
Issoufou, who was elected in 2011 after the country’s last coup in 2010, resigns voluntarily after two five-year terms.
In a New Year’s radio address, Issoufou praised the elections as “a new and successful page in the democratic history of our country.”
Bazoum campaigned on the promise to emphasize safety and education.
If a second round is necessary, it will take place on February 20.
