Nigerien Presidential Polls: President Mahamadou re-elected

• Nigerien president wins re-election in run

  

  President Mahamadou

  Casmir Obiegbolu: March 23, 2016
  
  
  Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou has secured 92 percent of the vote in a controversial run-off ballot boycotted by the opposition, according to official results released on tuesday.
  
  Niger's president has been re-elected as his main opponent remains in France seeking medical treatment after being jailed for several months.
  The electoral commission released results on Tuesday showing that President Mahamadou Issoufou received more than 92 percent of the runoff vote. 
  His rival Hama Amadou received 18 percent of the vote, which saw a low turnout after the opposition called for a boycott. 
  
  
  
  "The Nigerien people have spoken clearly and unequivocally," said Issoufou in a statement in which he laid out his plans for a second term, including increasing security and improving the country's infrastructure. "I hail their political maturity and strong mobilization." 
  
  
  The Coalition for an Alternative (COPA), which unites about 20 political parties including Amadou's MODEN, called for a boycott of the polls claiming the process had been tainted by fraud.
  
  
  It described the election as a "sham" and said in a statement on Tuesday that it would refuse to recognize the results. 
  
  
  "President Issoufou's mandate expires on April 1, 2016 at midnight. From April 2, our country will have no legitimate president," it said.
  The turnout of the election was 60 percent, the commission said. The vote is subject to confirmation from the constitutional court.
  
  
  Southern Niger, which borders Nigeria, has been the target of frequent deadly raids by Islamist Boko Haram militants.
  
  
  It also shares borders with Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, where al Qaeda-linked groups are active. Libya, home to Islamic State affiliates, lies on its northern border.