Niger votes on new constitution

  1. Posted on Monday 1 November 2010 - 10:00
    Samuel
    Image of Samuel
    Samuel Okocha, AfricaNews reporter in Lagos, Nigeria
    Voters in the West African country of Niger on Sunday voted in a referendum on a new constitution as part of efforts to restore democracy after a February coup d'etat against former president Mamadou Tandja. The new constitution seeks to impose presidential term limits and pardon members of a military junta that seized power earlier this year.
    Niger's military ruler sacks intelligence chief
    It also commits them to handing over power on 6th of April next year.

    Junta leader Salou Djibo, who called on Nigeriens to come out in force and vote in favour of the new constitution, was reportedly the first to vote.

    As part of the transition to democracy, the coup leaders would not be participating in a presidential election scheduled for 31 January 2011.

    The electoral commission is expected to announce provisional results on Thursday.

    Important step

    A political professor at the University of Niamey, Niger say the constitution as an important step forward in the restoration of democracy in the uranium rich nation.

    "It's a new era of democracy," the Associated Press quoted Adji as saying. "The people must know that there is a change and that this change comes from the people themselves."

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