NIAMEY, 18 February, 2021 (TON): As Niger is heading for the second round of Presidential voting on Sunday, February 21, former President of Niger Mahamane Ousmane is locked in a second-round election runoff with favoured ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum.

Ousmane was driven from power by a military coup after three years of he took the seat.

The opposition parties are now urging candidates to rally and protest against the former president.

Gathered in a coalition called Cap 20-21, 18 parties launched "an appeal for civic responsibility from all the political forces in Niger to join the final combat."

The manifesto was first read out on Monday to more than 3,000 people in Niamey's main sports arena.

On December 27, 2020, Mohamed Bazoum, a former interior minister supported by outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, took a strong lead in the first round of voting winning 39.33 per cent of ballots cast.

However, Ousmane won 16.99 percent in a crowded field of 30 candidates.

So far, both frontrunners will have to haggle with other candidates to secure their support.