Senegal’s apex court has reversed President Macky Sall’s election postponement.
The country’s election authority, on Thursday, voided the government’s postponement of a presidential election scheduled for February 25 and its rescheduling for December, ruling that the moves were unconstitutional, according to Aljazeera.
The constitutional council cancelled the decree signed by President Macky Sall earlier this month that postponed the election.
The National Assembly’s decision on February 5 to reschedule the vote for December 15 also was “contrary to the constitution,” the judgement said. “The constitutional council, noting the impossibility of organising the presidential election on the date initially planned, invites the competent authorities to hold it as soon as possible,” it added.
Opposition figures praised the court’s ruling on Thursday.
“This is a decision that puts Senegal back on track. I’m not surprised because everything that was happening was too big,” former prime minister Aminata Toure, who has joined the opposition said.
Meanwhile, a statement by the Economic Community of West African States which had urged Sall to stick to the election timetable, said it noted the court’s decision.
“The [ECOWAS] Commission urges all stakeholders in the electoral process to comply with the decision…and calls on the competent authorities to set a date for the presidential election in accordance with the decision.”
