- Title: Niger president Issoufou to face run-off election
- Date: 26th February 2016
- Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (FEBRUARY 21, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NIGER PRESIDENT, MAHAMADOU ISSOUFOU, ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION ISSOUFOU CASTING VOTE EXTERIOR OF 'HOTEL DE VILLE' ISSOUFOU LEAVING POLLING STATION / MEDIA WAITING OUTSIDE (SOUNDBITE) (French) NIGER PRESIDENT, MAHAMADOU ISSOUFOU, SAYING: "I hope that these elections proceed calmly and pea
- Embargoed: 12th March 2016 17:37
- Keywords: Niger election vote poll president Mahamadou Issoufou
- Location: NIAMEY, NIGER
- City: NIAMEY, NIGER
- Country: Niger
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001464P8P3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger won 48.4 percent of the vote in the Feb. 21 election but fell short of an outright majority, forcing a run-off against jailed opposition leader Hama Amadou, according to provisional results on Friday (February 26).
Amadou, a former prime minister who came second with 17.8 percent, has been in prison since November on charges relating to a baby-trafficking scandal. He says he is innocent and a victim of political repression.
Under election rules, a candidate must have 50 percent of the vote to win in the first round; otherwise, the top two candidates must compete in a run-off poll.
A coalition of four parties agreed before the election to back the candidate that came second in a bid to defeat Issoufou. Those parties gained a cumulative vote of around 38 percent.
Sunday's vote, which spilled into Monday due to logistical problems, was peaceful but tense. Security forces patrolled cities and villages in case of unrest or militant attacks.
Issoufou is bidding for a second term and has vowed to tackle poverty and improve security in the West African country that is one of the poorest in the world.
Niger also faces a threat from Nigeria-based Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has staged a series of cross-border attacks in the southeastern Diffa region, forcing the government to impose a state of emergency there.
Turnout in the election was nearly 67 percent, according to the National Electoral Commission.
Niger, which produces uranium and oil, is ranked last in the U.N.'s Human Development Index. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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