Senegal’s Stable Democracy Threatened As President Macky Sall Postpones Presidential Poll

Cat:

Related stories

Wike’s Defection To APC ‘ll Make PDP, Others ‘Writhe In Pain’ — Tinubu

By Kolawole Ojebisi President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said the...

2025 Rivers N1.48 tn Budget Done In Readiness for Fubara’s Return — Ibas

By Kolawole Ojebisi The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice...

[VIDEO] Drama As Oshiomhole, Air Peace Engage in Dirty Spat at Lagos Airport

By Abiola Olawale Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines,...

I’m Ready To Forgive Elon Musk..We’ve to Strengthen the Country, Says Trump

By Kolawole Ojebisi US President, Donald Trump, has stated that...

Dele Momodu Tells Tinubu: You Can’t Say Nigerians are Busybodies, Bystanders to Praise Wike

By Abiola Olawale A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party...

By Ken Afor

There is uncertainty in Senegal’s political landscape following the postponement of the country’s 2024 presidential election, initially scheduled for February 25.

The election’s delay was announced on Saturday by President Macky Sall in an address, without specifying a new date.

This follows concerns raised by some members of the opposition after the disqualification of dozens of contenders, including opposition leaders Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade, from opposition parties in January.

Wade was reportedly disqualified due to allegations of dual French citizenship, which he denied, describing it as “scandalous.”

Similarly, Senegal’s chances of electing a female president were narrowed after the detention of Rose Wardini on Friday, one of the only two women approved to run, she was accused of concealing her French citizenship, according to judicial sources.

Additionally, lawmakers are currently conducting an investigation into two constitutional judges who are presumed to have violated the electoral process.

According to Sall, “These troubled conditions could seriously undermine the credibility of the ballot by sowing the seeds of pre- and post-electoral disputes,” Sall said in his address.

He assured that efforts are underway to implement measures for a free and inclusive election.

“I will begin an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent, and inclusive election,” Sall added without giving a new date.

Saturday’s election postponement marks the first time since Senegal gained independence in 1960. Despite the West African country’s longstanding stable democracy, President Sall’s announcement could potentially spark instability in the political landscape if not handled with caution.

Sall has dismissed rumors of running for a third term, as his party aims to continue in government with his anointed candidate, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, potentially succeeding him.

Recall that on Wednesday, Senegal’s parliament approved a report investigating the activities of the Constitutional Council, the body responsible for finalizing the list of candidates and announcing the election winner.

According to AFP, a few lawmakers from the ruling party voted in favor of the report, which raised concerns among the opposition as it could be perceived as a delay tactic to prevent the election from taking place.

The report stemmed from a campaign by opposition parties to investigate the Constitutional Council. Wade, leading the campaign, accused two of the seven council members of having ties with presidential hopefuls, including Prime Minister Amadou Ba, endorsed by the outgoing president.

Prior to President Sall’s speech, religious leaders had warned him about the potential repercussions of postponement, fearing it could lead to instability in the country.

Prime Minister Ba, endorsed by President Sall, is among the 20 contenders cleared by the Constitutional Council to run in the election.

The New Diplomat
The New Diplomathttps://newdiplomatng.com/
At The New Diplomat, we stand for ethical journalism, press freedom, accountable Republic, and gender equity. That is why at The New Diplomat, we are committed to speaking truth to power, fostering a robust community of responsible journalism, and using high-quality polls, data, and surveys to engage the public with compelling narratives about political, business, socio-economic, environmental, and situational dynamics in Nigeria, Africa, and globally.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Wike's Defection To APC 'll Make PDP, Others 'Writhe In Pain' -- Tinubu2025 Rivers N1.48 tn Budget Done In Readiness for Fubara's Return -- Ibas[VIDEO] Drama As Oshiomhole, Air Peace Engage in Dirty Spat at Lagos AirportI'm Ready To Forgive Elon Musk..We've to Strengthen the Country, Says TrumpDele Momodu Tells Tinubu: You Can't Say Nigerians are Busybodies, Bystanders to Praise WikeOil Prices Slip Despite U.S.-China TalksDrama As Elon Musk Reverses Self on Trump, Says Criticism Went too farEx-Minister, Essien Blasts Gov Umo Eno For Piling Pressure on Lawmakers to DefectNigeria Not At War Yet Citizens Living Like Refugees In Own Country -- Peter ObiFubara's Sins 'll Be Forgiven Only If... APC2027: I'm Ready To Die For Tinubu's Victory In Abia -- KaluAtiku's Ally, Segun Sowunmi, Hints At Dumping PDP For APC, Says 'I May Likely Leave'Why I Renamed IBB's Govt Built International Conference Centre After Tinubu - WikeMy Soul Has Left PDP, Says MomoduLet’s Go To Party, By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
X whatsapp