Senegal, Liberia presidential polls deepened ECOWAS democracy campaign

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, expressed delight at the successful presidential election in Senegal, as well as the general elections in Liberia, saying both processes boosted the campaign for democracy by the Economic Community of West African States.

Tinubu, who is ECOWAS Chairman, congratulated Mr. Bassirou Faye on his election as the President of the Republic of Senegal.

He equally congratulated incumbent President Macky Sall for overseeing an election widely deemed as peaceful and transparent.

Tinubu’s congratulatory messages were contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu congratulates President-elect Bassirou Dionaye Faye and the people of the Republic of Senegal.’

Faye emerged as Senegal’s President-elect after an unprecedented victory at the presidential election on Sunday, March 24, 2024.

The country’s electoral commission said more than seven million people were registered to vote out of roughly 17 million Senegalese. The civil society observer group known as COSCE revealed that voter turnout was over 61 per cent.

To win, candidates had to secure more than 50 per cent of the votes.

Although the Senegalese News Agency, APS, said the constitutional council would announce the results from on April 3, preliminary results showed the opposition candidate, Faye polling about 53.7 per cent.

Also, former Prime Minister and ruling coalition’s candidate, Amadou Ba, secured 36.2 per cent based on counts from 90 per cent of polling stations in the first-round vote, the electoral commission said.

Ba who had the backing of incumbent President Sall, conceded defeat based on the preliminary results.

Faye has since welcomed the move saying, “I salute the approach of the other candidates who, without exception, have honoured a very Senegalese tradition without even waiting for the official results to be announced by the authorised state bodies.”

A protégé of opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, Faye has vowed to lead with humility, fight corruption and protect Senegal from corruption and interference from foreign powers.

Reacting to the developments, Tinubu noted that “President-elect Faye comes with great promise and a sterling record, wishing him success as he takes on this important job of leading the good people of Senegal.”

He said the success of the presidential election in Senegal and the successful conduct of the general election in Liberia a few months ago had affirmed his long-held conviction that the taproot of democracy was deeply established in West Africa and would only grow stronger as it was watered by good governance, justice, and fairness to all.

As the Chairman of ECOWAS, Tinubu affirmed that the successful conduct of the Senegal election was “a boost to the sub-regional organisation in its efforts to promote peace and constitutional order, as well as strengthen ties among member states.”

Therefore, he congratulated the people of Senegal and assured them of Nigeria’s best wishes and support.

Last Sunday’s election was the first without a sitting president on the ballot after term limitations were introduced, barring Sall from seeking a third term.