Senegal poll: Bassirou Diomaye Faye sets to be declared winner, leads with 54% votes

Senegal’s main opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye is on the verge of being declared president-elect after provisional results showed that he led the Sunday polls by 54.28% of the total votes with 54.28% of the total votes.

Mr Faye’s main challenger, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba of the ruling coalition, got 35.79% of total votes in a poll that witnessed a voter turnout of 61%.

Presidential candidates have until the end of Thursday to file appeals disputing Mr Faye’s victory.

The Constitutional Council will confirm Mr Faye as president-elect if there are no clear challenges to his victory at the polls.

Mr Ba, along with several of the other 15 presidential contestants, have already conceded and congratulated Mr Faye for the victory.

Reports in Senegal indicated that it is unlikely that the ruling coalition and other challengers will appeal against the results.

Mr Faye has said he will rule Senegal with humility and fight corruption.

He has also vowed to immediately address youth unemployment and the high cost of living that have taken a huge toll on the country.

Recall that the outgoing President Macky Sall had attempted to postpone the polls initially slated for February, leading to violent protests and resulting in three deaths.

He promised not to stay longer in power after he was accused of attempts to prolong his tenure by the opposition.