President Bola Tinubu extended his congratulations to Mr. Bassirou Faye on his election as the President of the Republic of Senegal. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu also commended incumbent President Macky Sall for overseeing an election widely recognized as peaceful and transparent.
Bassirou Faye emerged as Senegal’s President-elect following a historic victory in the presidential election held on Sunday, March 24, 2024. With over 7 million registered voters out of roughly 17 million Senegalese, voter turnout exceeded 61 percent, according to the civil society observer group COSCE.
To secure victory, candidates needed to obtain more than 50 percent of the vote. While official results from the constitutional council are awaited on April 3, preliminary results indicated that opposition candidate Faye garnered approximately 53.7 percent of the vote.
Former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, the ruling coalition’s candidate backed by President Sall, conceded defeat based on preliminary results, securing 36.2 percent of the vote.
In response to the outcome, President-elect Faye expressed appreciation for the peaceful conduct of the election and the sportsmanship displayed by fellow candidates, regardless of the official announcement of results. A protégé of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, Faye pledged to lead with humility, combat corruption, and safeguard Senegal from external interference.
President Tinubu hailed President-elect Faye’s victory as a testament to his promise and commendable track record, expressing confidence in his ability to lead Senegal effectively. Tinubu emphasized the significance of Senegal’s successful election and the recent general election in Liberia, affirming his belief in the entrenched roots of democracy in West Africa.
As the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Tinubu highlighted the importance of Senegal’s election in promoting peace, constitutional order, and regional cooperation. He conveyed Nigeria’s best wishes and support to the people of Senegal, underscoring the region’s commitment to democratic principles and governance.