COPA 2016 coalition pulls out, citing unfair treatment of candidates, paving the way for incumbent Issoufou’s victory.
Niger’s opposition coalition says its jailed candidate Hama Amadou will boycott the runoff race against President Mahamadou Issoufou, in a poll expected to grant the incumbent a second term.
Opposition coalition COPA 2016’s Seini Oumarou said in a statement on Tuesday that the coalition would be withdrawing from the runoff, citing “unfair treatment between the two candidates”.
“The political opposition united by COPA 2016 has decided to withdraw from the electoral process under way (and) demands that its representatives withdraw from (national electoral commission) CENI,” he said.