Niger president wins 92 percent of votes amid low turnout

Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, after speaking about recent elections in Niamey, Niger, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Niger’s president has cruised to an easy re-election while his main opponent remains in France seeking medical treatment after being jailed for several months. The electoral commission released results Tuesday showing that President Mahamadou Issoufou received more than 92 percent of the runoff vote. AP PHOTO

NIAMEY, Niger— Niger’s president has cruised to an easy re-election while his main opponent remains in France seeking medical treatment after being jailed for several months.

The electoral commission released results Tuesday showing that President Mahamadou Issoufou received more than 92 percent of the runoff vote. He had campaigned on his record fighting Islamic extremists.

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Participation was less than 60 percent of registered voters. The opposition had said it wouldn’t recognize the Sunday poll results because of irregularities in the first round.

Opposition candidate Hama Amadou was detained from November until March for alleged involvement in a baby-trafficking scheme, a charge he has dismissed as politically motivated. He was flown to Paris last week ahead of the vote.