Following Sunday’s election, candidates including Anta Babacar Ngom and Mame Boye Diao congratulated Faye on his “clear and undeniable victory” based on emerging trends.
Journalist-turned-politician Pape Djibril Fall also offered congratulations to Faye, who represented the opposition movement PASTEF after their leader Ousmane Sonko’s candidacy was rejected.
Dethie Fall, a rival candidate from the dissolved PASTEF party, acknowledged Faye’s “fine victory” based on early results.
Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, candidate for the incumbent Benno Bokk Yaakaar coalition, offered more reserved congratulations, acknowledging only Faye’s “victory in the polls” and his local win.
Former Dakar mayor Khalifa Ababacar Sall emphasized the peaceful nature of the vote and the Senegalese commitment to democracy, while acknowledging the trend favoring Faye.
Notably, the ruling coalition remains confident of a second-round run-off based on their internal tallies. All parties await the official declaration of results by the national vote-counting commission.
President Macky Sall, who is stepping down after his term, reiterated that only the official commission can declare results. Senegal waits with bated breath for the official outcome of a tightly contested election. The early congratulations and differing stances from candidates highlight the high stakes involved.
AC/fss/abj/abj/APA