Senegal: Obasanjo Arrives in Dakar as Senegal Presidential Row Rages On

As the bitter dispute between Senegal’s incumbent president, Abdoulaye Wade, and the opposition coalition, M23, raged on, African Union observers’ team chief Olusegun Obasanjo arrived in Dakar Tuesday night. RFI gives a profile of all 14 candidates in a controversial election.

Former Nigerian president Obasanjo wants to see all the candidates and Wade’s spokesperson Serigne Mabcké Ndiaye insists that he will receive a warm welcome.

Who’s who in 2012 Senegalese presidential election

The opposition says that Wade should not be allowed to stand because he himself introduced a constitution that banned presidents from standing for a third term.

Ironically, in 2006 Wade was among foreign leaders who criticised Obasanjo’s proposal to change Nigeria’s constitution to allow himself a third shot at office.

One of the opposition candidates, Ibrahima Fall, called for Sunday’s election to be postponed on Tuesday.

Wade’s camp was quick to slam the idea but Fall also seems to have failed to convince other opposition candidates.

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