AU Special Envoy for the Senegalese Presidential elections 2012, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday said voting went on peacefully in spite of fears of violence.
Obasanjo was quoted by local media, SeneNews, as saying that the process went on well in most areas visited and reported on after the elections.
Obasanjo, who is the ECOWAS and AU Head of Election Observer Mission, arrived in the country on Tuesday to oversee the election process and mediate a peaceful transition.
Senegalese media reported that the former Nigerian president had earlier held several meetings with President Abdoulaye Wade, opposition leaders, the civil society and religious leaders to ensure peace in the country.
Fears in the Senegalese presidential election was hyped days before the exercise as protesters mounted pressure on a third-term seeking presidential candidate, Wade, to drop his bid.
Wade, 85 years old, had ruled the country for two terms, but the Constitutional Council allowed him to seek a third term on the ground that the constitution was amended during his first term.?
Senegalese media had reported the death of six people in various protests.
The correspondent therefore, reports that Senegalese media said the elections opened in most polling stations in the country at 8 a.m. while others opened 40 minutes later.
Media reports said electoral officers arrived late in some polling stations.
At about 7 p.m, SeneNews reported that voting had been concluded in major towns like Thies, St Louis and Dakar.
According to media reports, Wade angrily stormed out of a polling booth after he was jeered by voters and refused to comment on the electoral process.
Wade is contesting the election with 13 other candidates after famous musician, Youssou N’Dour was refused participation by the constitutional court.
According to local media, a presidential candidate, Idrissa Seck, urged his supporters to obey the laws after voting in his village.
Seck said: “Permit the 14th candidate, Wade, he is one candidate who exempts himself from the law.”
Seck was a former Prime Minister in Senegal.
Another presidential candidate, Macky Sall, said: “I want to thank God for the grace to vote in Thiermo Mamadou Sall de Fatick, where I habitually go out to vote.
“I also rejoice at the calm nature and the maturity with which the Senegalese conducted themselves at the polls.”
However, the Senegalese who voted in France had been sent to the electoral commission, while polling stations continued compiling and announcing figures at the polling stations.
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