# 2020–21 Nigerien general election

General elections were held in Niger on 27 December 2020 to elect the President and National Assembly. With incumbent president Mahamadou Issoufou stepping down following his two terms constitutional limit, new presidential candidates competed for office. As no presidential candidate received a majority of the vote on the first round, a second round was held on 21 February 2021. The ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) candidate Mohamed Bazoum was declared the winner, beating Mahamane Ousmane in the second round with 56% of the vote. In the National Assembly elections the PNDS won 79 of the 166 seats, falling just short of a majority.

## Background

Incumbent president Mahamadou Issoufou completed his second term in 2021 and publicly committed to stepping down, paving the way for the country's first peaceful transition of power since independence. A record number of 41 candidates applied to run for president, but only 30 were accepted. Included in the 11 rejected candidates was Hama Amadou, candidate of the main opposition party, whose application was denied by the constitutional court due to his previous imprisonment for a year in a case of baby trafficking. Amadou, who came second in the 2016 and third in the 2011 elections, has denied all the charges and claimed they were politically motivated.

## Electoral system

The president is elected using the two-round system; if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round, a second round will be held on 20 February 2021.
The 171 members of the National Assembly are elected by two methods; 158 members are elected from eight multi-member constituencies based on the seven regions and Niamey by party-list proportional representation. A further eight seats are reserved for minority groups and are elected from single-member constituencies held under first-past-the-post voting. Normally, five seats (one for each permanently-inhabited continent) are reserved for Nigeriens living abroad, all elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting. However, in the months preceding the election, the registered voters list for Nigeriens living outside of the country wasn't kept up to date, leading to the elections for their five seats not being held. This de facto lowered the total of seats in the chamber to 166, and the amount needed for a majority to 84.

## Results
### President

| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Mohamed Bazoum | Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism | 1,879,629 | 39.30 | 2,490,049 | 55.67 |
| | Mahamane Ousmane | Democratic and Republican Renewal | 812,412 | 16.99 | 1,983,072 | 44.33 |
| | Seyni Oumarou | National Movement for the Society of Development | 428,083 | 8.95 | | |
| | Albadé Abouba | Patriotic Movement for the Republic | 338,511 | 7.08 | | |
| | Ibrahim Yacouba | Nigerien Patriotic Movement | 257,302 | 5.38 | | |
| | Salou Djibo | Peace, Justice, Progress – Generation Doubara | 142,747 | 2.98 | | |
| | Oumarou Malam Alma | Rally for Peace and Progress | 118,259 | 2.47 | | |
| | Hassane Baraze Moussa | Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress | 114,965 | 2.40 | | |
| | Omar Hamidou Tchana | Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger | 76,368 | 1.60 | | |
| | Amadou Ousmane | Democratic Alternation for Fairness in Niger | 63,396 | 1.33 | | |
| | Souleymane Garba | Niger Party of Change – Mu Lura | 61,158 | 1.28 | | |
| | Idi Ango Ousmane | Alliance for Democracy and the Republic – Mahita | 56,100 | 1.17 | | |
| | Nayoussa Nassirou | Convention for Democracy and Social Progress | 41,697 | 0.87 | | |
| | Ibrahim Gado | Republican Council for Progress and Democracy | 39,319 | 0.82 | | |
| | Mounkaila Issa | Nigerien Rally for Democracy and Peace | 38,604 | 0.81 | | |
| | Hamidou Mamadou Abdou | African National Gathering Party | 35,934 | 0.75 | | |
| | Intinicar Alhassane | Nigerien Party for Peace and Development | 30,995 | 0.65 | | |
| | Abdoulkadri Alpha | Gayya Zabbe | 28,910 | 0.60 | | |
| | Kane Habibou | Synergy of Democrats for the Republic | 27,162 | 0.57 | | |
| | Oumarou Abdourahamane | Union for Patriotic Pan-Africanists | 20,488 | 0.43 | | |
| | Moustapha Moustapha | Party for a Political Revolution in Niger | 20,365 | 0.43 | | |
| | Amadou Saidou | Independent | 20,156 | 0.42 | | |
| | Mahaman Hamissou Moumouni | Party for Justice and Development – Hakika | 18,585 | 0.39 | | |
| | Djibrilla Mainassara | Sawaba | 17,233 | 0.36 | | |
| | Sagbo Adolphe | Socialist Party | 17,060 | 0.36 | | |
| | Idrissa Issoufou | Citizen's Movement for Development | 16,995 | 0.36 | | |
| | Amadou Cissé | Union for Democracy and the Republic | 16,835 | 0.35 | | |
| | Mamadou Doulla | Redemption for the Sake of the Fatherland | 16,768 | 0.35 | | |
| | Abdallah Souleymane | Niger Forward (Nigerena) | 14,282 | 0.30 | | |
| | Ismael Ide | Action Front for a New Niger | 12,062 | 0.25 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,782,380 | 100.00 | 4,473,121 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 4,782,380 | 92.16 | 4,473,121 | 95.48 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 406,752 | 7.84 | 211,658 | 4.52 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,189,132 | 100.00 | 4,684,779 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 7,446,556 | 69.68 | 7,446,556 | 62.91 |
| Source: Constitutional Court - First round Constitutional Court - Second round |||||||
The first round of the elections resulted in Mohamed Bazoum leading with 39.30% of the vote, while former president Mahamane Ousmane came second with 16.99%. Thus, a second round took place between them on February 21 to determine the next president of Niger. On 23 February, The Independent National Electoral Commission (CÉNI) announced that Mohamed Bazoum, former interior minister and candidate of the ruling party, won the second round of the Nigerien presidential election with 55.67% of the valid votes: "These results are provisional and must be submitted to the Constitutional Court for analysis," said Issaka Souna, president of the CÉNI, before the diplomatic corps and the Nigerien authorities gathered at the Niamey convention center.

### National Assembly

Due to the registered voters list for Nigeriens living abroad not being kept up to date, the elections for five overseas seats were not held, lowering the total of seats to 166.
The PNDS won 79 seats. MODEN FA came second with 19 seats, the MPR third with 14 seats and the MNSD fourth with 13 seats each. The remainder were taken by smaller or minor parties.
| | Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism | 1,745,266 | 37.04 | 79 | +4 |
| | Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation | 410,311 | 8.71 | 19 | –6 |
| | Patriotic Movement for the Republic | 357,563 | 7.59 | 14 | +1 |
| | National Movement for the Society of Development | 319,189 | 6.77 | 13 | –7 |
| | Democratic and Republican Renewal | 207,592 | 4.41 | 7 | New |
| | Congress for the Republic | 195,704 | 4.15 | 8 | +5 |
| | Nigerien Patriotic Movement | 187,005 | 3.97 | 6 | +1 |
| | Peace, Justice, Progress–Generation Doubara | 135,576 | 2.88 | 2 | New |
| | Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress | 115,815 | 2.46 | 3 | –1 |
| | Rally for Democracy and Progress | 100,363 | 2.13 | 2 | –1 |
| | Rally for Peace and Progress | 99,043 | 2.10 | 2 | New |
| | Alliance for Democratic Renewal | 82,073 | 1.74 | 2 | 0 |
| | Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger | 67,354 | 1.43 | 2 | –1 |
| | Democratic Movement for the Emergence of Niger | 67,108 | 1.42 | 2 | New |
| | Democratic Alliance for Niger | 53,287 | 1.13 | 0 | –1 |
| | Democratic and Social Convention | 50,892 | 1.08 | 0 | –3 |
| | Social Democratic Rally | 48,368 | 1.03 | 1 | –3 |
| | Democratic Alternation for Equity in Niger | 48,012 | 1.02 | 1 | New |
| | Social Democratic Party | 45,777 | 0.97 | 1 | –1 |
| | Alliance for Democracy and the Republic | 41,306 | 0.88 | 1 | New |
| | Nigerien Rally for Democracy and Peace | 30,971 | 0.66 | 1 | New |
| | Democratic Renewal | 26,560 | 0.56 | 0 | New |
| | African National Rally | 23,980 | 0.51 | 0 | New |
| | Republican Council for Progress and Democracy | 18,319 | 0.39 | 0 | New |
| | Nigerien Party for Reform | 16,956 | 0.36 | 0 | New |
| | Civic Movement for Reform | 16,708 | 0.35 | 0 | New |
| | Synergy of Democrats for the Republic | 16,526 | 0.35 | 0 | New |
| | New Generation for Niger | 11,434 | 0.24 | 0 | 0 |
| | Nigerien Progressive Party – African Democratic Rally | 9,053 | 0.19 | 0 | 0 |
| | Rally of Citizens for the Republic | 8,972 | 0.19 | 0 | New |
| | Rally of Patriots for Development | 8,770 | 0.19 | 0 | New |
| | Democratic Movement for Renewal | 8,491 | 0.18 | 0 | 0 |
| | Union for Democratic Renewal | 8,254 | 0.18 | 0 | New |
| | Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development | 7,670 | 0.16 | 0 | New |
| | Movement of People for Progress | 7,560 | 0.16 | 0 | New |
| | National Convention for the Republic | 6,796 | 0.14 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance of Patriots for Progress | 6,706 | 0.14 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Democracy and Development | 6,705 | 0.14 | 0 | New |
| | Union for Democracy and the Republic | 6,667 | 0.14 | 0 | –2 |
| | Party for Justice and Development | 6,248 | 0.13 | 0 | New |
| | Democratic Party of the People | 6,192 | 0.13 | 0 | New |
| | Party of Energetic Youth of Niger | 5,073 | 0.11 | 0 | New |
| | Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Development | 5,061 | 0.11 | 0 | New |
| | Socialist Party | 4,962 | 0.11 | 0 | 0 |
| | Democratic Movement for Development and Defence of Freedoms | 4,703 | 0.10 | 0 | New |
| | African Awakening – Yunkuri | 3,972 | 0.08 | 0 | New |
| | Steps of Patriots for National Progress | 3,900 | 0.08 | 0 | New |
| | Party of the Masses for Labour | 3,486 | 0.07 | 0 | New |
| | Gayye Zabbe | 3,311 | 0.07 | 0 | New |
| | Action Front for a New Niger | 3,308 | 0.07 | 0 | New |
| | Movement for Justice, Democracy and Development | 3,264 | 0.07 | 0 | New |
| | Socialist Democratic Rally | 3,014 | 0.06 | 0 | New |
| | Republican Party for Democracy and Development | 2,720 | 0.06 | 0 | New |
| | Redemption for the Salvation of the Fatherland | 2,542 | 0.05 | 0 | New |
| | Socio-Revolutionary Movement for Democracy | 2,522 | 0.05 | 0 | 0 |
| | Democratic and Socialist Union for Renewal | 2,516 | 0.05 | 0 | New |
| | Rally of Democrats | 2,480 | 0.05 | 0 | New |
| | Daraja | 2,298 | 0.05 | 0 | New |
| | All for the Republic | 2,056 | 0.04 | 0 | New |
| | Converge of Patriots for Reform | 1,993 | 0.04 | 0 | New |
| | Union of Socialist Nigeriens | 1,877 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Democracy and Progress | 1,865 | 0.04 | 0 | New |
| | Sawaba | 1,647 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Nigerien Self-Management Party | 1,217 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 |
| | Union of Nigerien Patriots for Renewal | 1,046 | 0.02 | 0 | New |
| | Party of Renewal and Equity | 1,045 | 0.02 | 0 | New |
| | Nigerien Convergence for Progress | 628 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | Convention for Democracy and Social Progress | 588 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | Patriotic Movement for Salvation | 563 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | Nigerien Party for Peace and Development | 374 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | Party of Progress for a United Niger | 350 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | Force of Hope | 292 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | APPAD | 216 | 0.00 | 0 | New |
| | Union of Independent Nigeriens | 196 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 |
| | Nigerien Party for Democracy and Development | 94 | 0.00 | 0 | New |
| | Patriotic Front for Justice and Development | 45 | 0.00 | 0 | New |
| | Niger Forward | 27 | 0.00 | 0 | New |
| | Union of Patriots for Democracy and Progress | 23 | 0.00 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | 17 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 4,712,433 | 100.00 | 166 | –5 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 4,712,433 | 91.46 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 440,194 | 8.54 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 5,152,627 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 7,446,556 | 69.19 | | |
| Source: Constitutional Court ||||||

## Aftermath

Following the elections, protesters demanded the government resign and the result be recounted. Two people were killed during the demonstrations on 25–26 February when police fired tear gas at protesters. Protesters threw stones at the soldiers in military vehicles who patrolled and clashed with demonstrators in Niamey. Protests lasted three days, starting on 23 February.
On 31 March 2021 a coup attempt was launched by dissident soldiers two days before Bazoum's inauguration but was thwarted, leading to the inauguration pushing through on 2 April.
In July 2023, Bazoum was deposed from office after a coup d'état led by members of the presidential guard and the armed forces.