The The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the second round of presidential elections in Niger, held throughout the country on Sunday.

President Mahamadou Issoufou looks more than likely to win after the opposition called a boycott and its jailed leader was flown out of the country for medical reasons last week.

The National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), which has five days to proclaim the winner, began releasing first results from the run-off round early Monday but it was too early to see a trend.

OIC Secretary General, Mr. Iyad Madani commended the electorate for their participation in the vote which was held in a peaceful atmosphere. He paid tribute to them for rallying out to exercise their right. He also commended the CENI for their better arrangement which facilitated the smooth conduct of the polls. He urged the electoral body to continue to maintain transparency in the process ahead leading to the announcement of the result.

The Secretary General appealed to all the steak holders to respect the will of the people as expressed through the vote and urged them to only follow constitutional means to pursue any grievances. He finally appealed to them to continue to preserve peace, unity and stability of their country.

Interior Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou on Sunday brushed aside the lack of voter enthusiasm in the capital, saying "Niamey is not Niger" and that national figures were "comparable or slightly lower" than in February.

"I regret that the opposition is boycotting these elections, but we are a democracy and everyone is free to take whatever position they wish," Issoufou told AFP as he voted in Niamey.