By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Senegalese opposition party, African Party of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) is considering supporting another presidential candidate after the ruling of the Supreme Court which voided the high court ruling ordering the inclusion of its leader, Ousmane Sonko.
The Supreme Court ruling at the weekend implies that Mr Sonko is unable to run in the February 2024 election.
He has faced a series of legal battles over the past two years for charges bordering on libel and rape, allegations he denies.
In July he was arrested for insurrection and he was struck off the electoral roll – ruling him out of a presidential election next February.
PASTEF is now proposing its Secretary-General, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to be its flag-bearer.
“Sponsoring the candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye in no way implies an abdication of the candidacy of President Ousmane Sonko,” the Associated Press quotes a PASTEF statement as saying.
“Everyone knows him well enough to know that to his last breath, he will fight without compromise.”
Mr Sonko, 49, has accused President Macky Sall of seeking to exclude him from running in the presidential election.
He was jailed in July on charges including fomenting insurrection, criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise and undermining state security over incidents dating back to 2021.
Mr Faye is also facing criminal charges that his party says are politically motivated, AP reports.
