Chad to hold presidential polls in April

Chad’s Independent National Electoral Commission has set presidential elections for April 10, it was announced Saturday night.

Current head of state Idriss Deby Itno — in power since 1990 after overthrowing former president Hissein Habre — is expected to be designated as candidate by his party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement, on February 6.

Deby, born in 1952, modified the constitution in 2004, scrapping its two-term limit on presidential tenure, and won the following elections by a huge majority.

Two opposition figures, Kassire Coumakoye and Malloum Yobode, have already declared they will run.

Candidates have from February 10 to 29 to file their bid. A runoff vote will be held on May 9 if no outright winner emerges from the first round in April.

Oil-rich Chad is playing a pivotal role in the military campaign against the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram.

On November 9, the government declared a state of emergency in the flashpoint Lake Chad region, which straddles Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger.