The Constitutional Court finally accepted 15 candidates to run for the presidential election.

Incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou will finally face 14 opposition candidates in February 21, 2016 presidential election in Niger. The Constitutional Court published the final list of candidates last weekend. Reports say 16 aspirants for the presidency submitted their nomination papers. Only one file of a candidate who is little known to the public was rejected as his medical certificate was not authentic.

RFI further reported that all the prominent political figures who submitted their nomination papers have been finally selected to run for the presidency. Besides incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou who will be contesting for re-election in the second term, the main opposition leader Seyni Oumarou, will also be in the race. Other prominent candidates include former President Mahamane Ousmane and former Prime Minister, Cheffou Amadou.

Even people accused of trafficking in Nigerian children Abdou Labo, former Agriculture Minister and Hama Amadou  who is in detention will be in for the race. Two former Ministers Moctar Kassoum and Amadou Boubacar Cissé as well as Mahamane  Hamissou of the civil society organizations are on the starting line for the February 21 presidential election.

Niger’s electors will not only vote for the future president on February 21, 2016 but also  for Members of the National Assembly. Campaigns for the twin elections will start on January 30, 2016 and will end on February 19. Incumbent President Mahamdou Issoufou who will be seeking re-election was first elected Head of State in the March 2011 presidential elections through a second round and was inaugurated as president on April 7, 2011. He competed with Seyni Oumarou candidate of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD-Nassara).