By Abubakar Hashim
Niger’s former Foreign Minister and the most likely next president, come February 21,2021 run off elections, Mohammed Bazoum, who celebrated his 61st birthday yesterday, Niger will produce its first democratic transition, since independence from France in 1960.
Bazoum was Foreign Minister between 1995 and 1996, again 2011 to 2015.
A bilingual, meticulous and amiable public servant, he is the annointed candidate of out going President Mammadou Issoufou, who has completed his 2nd term, with admirable Infrastructural achievements, particularly the oil refinery that serves most West African Countries.
Bazoum, an apotheosis of Issoufou, will continue Issoufou’s 2 term breakthroughs, in a country that is landlocked, with a vast majority of its people in abject poverty.
Official results of the December 27, 2020 declar3d today by the Electoral Commission, CENI is as follows:
Presidential Candidates:
Mohamed Bazoum 39.3%
Mahamane Ousmane 16.9%
28 other candidates combined 44%
Reg. voters 7.4m
Valid votes 4.7m
Turn-out 69.6%
Since none of the 30 candidates received more than 50% votes required by the constitution to win the presidency, a run-off vote will take place on February 21 between the two frontrunners, Bazoum and Ousmane.
In the elections for 171 Parliamentary seats:
Bazoum’s PNDS 80 seats
The remaining seats are shared between Ousmane’s party and others, with the second-placed coalition getting 19 seats.
CENI is expected to announce the presidential run-off today, Saturday, January 2, 2020. The run-off election I scheduled for February 21, 2021.
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