Categories: AFRICALatest

Vote Counting Underway in Niger with Results Expected in a Few Days

Niger has begun counting of Sunday votes from an election that is expected to lead to the West African nation’s first transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents.
Reports suggest the voting process went on smoothly on Sunday as there were no reports of widespread disruptions.
The West African country, unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago, is ranked the world’s poorest country according to the UN’s Human Development Index.
Around 7.4 million people were registered to vote in the presidential ballot, which coincided with legislative polls.
“I expect the Nigerien president to put security, health, progress and democracy first,” Aboubakar Saleh, a 37-year-old launderer, told AFP in the capital Niamey without revealing his choice among the 30 candidates.
Issaka Soumana, a 52-year-old lorry driver, said he wanted a change.
“Niger is not moving forward. Our country must rise,” he said, brandishing his ink-stained thumb to show he had cast his ballot.
President Mahamadou Issoufou, who was elected in 2011 after the country’s last coup in 2010, is voluntarily stepping down after two five-year terms.
“It is a special day for Niger which will experience for the first time in its history a democratic transition,” Issoufou, 68, said after voting at the Niamey city hall.
He noted that Sunday’s vote was the first in which he did not take part in three decades in the predominantly Muslim country.
At some polling stations in Niamey, voters saw to it that men and women formed separate queues to vote.
The frontrunner is Issoufou’s designated successor, Mohamed Bazoum, 60, a former interior and foreign minister.
“It is a great source of pride that this date of December 27 has been respected,” Bazoum said after voting.
He campaigned on promises of emphasising security and education, especially for young girls in a country with the world’s highest fertility rate — 7.6 children per woman.

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

House Deputy Speaker Kalu Says Governors Receptive To Proposed Constitution Amendments

Benjamin Kalu has revealed that Nigerian governors are supportive, committed to reviewing the 161 proposed…

10 mins ago

NNPC Plans High Integrity, Low Security Risk Pipeline Network to Combat Vandalism, Drive Sustainability

NNPC has announced plans for modern pipeline systems with fibre optics, geo-tagging, and private investment…

12 mins ago

Zenith Bank Awards N77.5 Million at Hackathon Finalists for Tech Startups at Fourth Annual Tech Fair

The Zenith Tech Fair 4.0 ended with a sum of N77.5 million being given to…

14 mins ago

Edo Assembly Partners Netherlands, CDCI, ICMPD to Tackle Human Trafficking in Transport Sector

Edo State’s legislation has pledged a partnership with the Netherlands to strengthen laws combating trafficking…

16 mins ago

Lagos State’s N3 Trillion 2025 Budget Prioritises Tourism, Infrastructure, Economic Growth

Lagos state has earmarked N3 trillion for its 2025 budget, prioritising tourism, infrastructure, social inclusion,…

19 mins ago

Our Reforms Are yielding Positive Results, We Will Provide Social Safety Nets to Cushion Hardships, Tinubu Tells IMF

Tinubu has assured the IMF that his reforms are bearing positive results, vowing to prioritise…

24 mins ago