Niger”s president, Issoufou projected to win poll by large margin

Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou enjoyed a strong lead in his bid for a second term as leader of the West African nation, according to partial results. With 3.18 million votes from Sunday’s election counted – representing a little over 40 percent of the 7.5-million strong electorate – the 63-year-old incumbent had just over 46 percent. […]

Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou enjoyed a strong lead in his bid for a second term as leader of the West African nation, according to partial results. With 3.18 million votes from Sunday’s election counted – representing a little over 40 percent of the 7.5-million strong electorate – the 63-year-old incumbent had just over 46 percent. The partial result showed he was well ahead of his closest rival, detained former parliamentary speaker Hama Amadou, whose supporters said the poll was rigged.
Amadou is behind bars on baby trafficking, charges he says were concocted to thwart his presidential ambitions.
The partial vote count showed he garnered only just over 16 percent, while former Prime Minister Seini Oumarou had about 11 percent, the electoral commission said.
The final score could be announced later on Thursday, electoral officials said.