Nigerian billionaire, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, has donated over 100 campaign vehicles in support of the presidential election bid of a former Minister, Mohamed Bazoum, in the Republic of Niger.
PRNigeria reports that the presentation of the vehicles was made in Maradi, the second-largest city in Niger Republic, which is also a border town between Nigeria and the country.
According to the report, the vehicles were all branded “Mohammed Bazoum, 2021,” with a conspicuous photo of the presidential candidate on them.
The Katsina State-born Mangal is a business mogul, an entrepreneur, industrialist and seasoned management expert who founded Max Air Limited in 2008. His net worth estimated around $765 million (over N300 billion).
PR Nigeria reports further that the donation is expected to boost the chances of Bazoum’s, who is already a protege of President Mahamadou Issoufou and candidate for the ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS).
The general elections are scheduled to be held in Niger Republic on December 27, 2020 to elect the President and members of the National Assembly.
PRNigeria gathered that if no presidential candidate receives a majority of the vote above 50 per cent at the election on the weekend, a second-round will be held on February 21, 2021.
In a year marked by setbacks for some West African countries, the forthcoming presidential election will lead to Niger’s first democratic transition of power between two democratically elected presidents since the country’s independence in 1960 from France.
Bazoum is a Nigerien Arab politician who has been President of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya) since 2011.
He served in the government of Niger as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996 and again from 2011 to 2015.
He was Minister of State at the Presidency from 2015 to 2016 and was Minister of State for Interior between 2016 and the summer of 2020 when he resigned to focus on running for the 2020 presidential election.
There are indications that Bazoum may win Niger’s first democratic transfer of power in the presidential election owing to the ruling party’s vast financial advantages.
The 60-year-old former interior minister has vowed to continue Issoufou’s policies for combating Islamist violence and tackling poverty.
His policy platform, dubbed Renaissance 3, is named after Issoufou’s Renaissance 1 and Renaissance 2 governing agendas.
Bazoum’s campaign manager is Issoufou’s son.
Bazoum will face 29 other candidates, including Mahamane Ousmane, who was president from 1993-1996; and Seini Oumarou, a former prime minister.
