Workers putting up posters of Abdoulaye Wade
March 01, 2007, 21:15

Abdoulaye Wade, the Senegalese president has easily won re-election to a second term with nearly 56 percent of votes in Sunday’s high-turnout election, according to provisional results announced today. The octogenarian president, known as "the hare" for his wily political cunning, won nearly four times as many votes as his nearest rival.

Cheikh Tidiane Diakhate, head of the National Vote Counting Commission, said that of 3 419 755 valid votes cast, Wade had received 1 910 368 or 55. 86 percent. Turnout was a high 70.5 percent.

Idrissa Seck, Wade’s estranged former prime minister came second, trailing with 14. 93 percent, followed by Ousmane Tanor Dieng of the Socialist Party, the main opposition, with 13. 57 percent. The results, which must still be reviewed and confirmed by the Constitutional Council, confirm figures released unofficially earlier this week.

In central Dakar’s Sandaga market, run largely by members of the fervently pro-Wade Mouride brotherhood, the reaction was muted. "If it had been the Socialists who had won, people would have been celebrating. But as Wade was already in place we are still in the same rhythm … so nothing has changed," said Malick Diouf (28) who sells televisions in the market.

Opposition to challenge results
Opposition parties, some of which say they have evidence of fraud and will challenge Wade’s victory, have three days to lodge objections to the results. Dieng’s campaign has said it had evidence of a plot to rig the vote, and on Tuesday displayed voter cards bearing the same name as proof that some people were able to vote twice in the election.

Other opposition parties have complained that supposedly indelible ink used to mark voters’ fingers to prevent multiple ballots in fact washed off.

Monitors from Ecowas, the West Africa’s regional organisation said the vote was sufficiently free and fair, although Sans Frontieres, the Paris-based media watchdog Reporters said state media gave Wade and his campaign overwhelming coverage. - Reuters.