Niger: More than a million cannot vote in February presidential election

About 1.5 million people cannot vote in next month’s election in Niger due to inability to prove their identity.

According to Alkassoum Indatou, spokesman of the presidential majority, the political class has failed to arrive at a consensus .

The leading opposition party linked the situation to the inability to vote by witness.

Other voters have started withdrawing their voters cards . About 8 million cards are being distributed until the 20th of February.

The chairman of the electoral commision has urged voters to withdraw their cards as soon as possible because this will not be possible on voting day.

Niger’s electoral register has been validated by the parties involved in the upcoming election.

Fifteen candidates are expected to start campaigning on January 20.
Opposition parties have decried the arrest of opposition leaders in December last year.

The Nigerien government has defended itself by indicating that some of the opposition leaders were involved in plans to take president Issoufou’s power by force.

The February 21 election in Niger comes at the time when the country is worried about terrorism threats from neighbouring countries.

The country recently joined Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon in a regional coalition against Boko Haram.