Senegal’s former president Abdoulaye Wade has resigned as a member of the National Assembly ahead of its first sitting on Thursday.
Wade who was elected in the July 30 legislative elections announced his resignation in a letter published by local media on Monday. He had won the seat under under the Senegalese Democratic Party and a coalition of parties.
91-year-old said he “joined the contest only to support the party and the coalition”.
“I would be grateful if you would let my fellow Members know that I am presenting my resignation from the National Assembly, which is why I will not be present at the solemn opening session called for Thursday 14 September 2017,”the letter said.
“I ran in the elections only to support my party, the Senegalese Democratic Party, and our coalition, Wattù Senegaal, of which I was the leader during the legislative elections.”
The 91-year-old added: “My party, our coalition and I have noticed the end of my mission, which finished with the ruling of the Constitutional Council publishing the controversial results of the elections.”
His party won only 19 seats against the ruling party’s 125 seats in the 195-seat legislature.
He was expected to chair chair the inauguration of the legislature on Thursday as the Dean of the Assembly.
