Provisional results from Saturday’s election in Cote d’Ivoire put Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara in a strong early lead as he seeks a third term in an election that has been marked by deadly violence.

The results suggest that Ouattara won at least 90% of the vote in the majority of the districts announced from Saturday’s poll, most of which are ruling party strongholds. 

Henri Konan Bedie and Pascal Affi N’guessan boycotted the poll, citing unfavorable conditions for holding the elections.

Their boycott was also in protest against President Alassane Ouattara’s participation as they claimed that he was not eligible to participate in the election.

But Ouattara and his party argue that he is eligible as the two-term presidential limit, had been scrapped during a 2016 referendum.

The post-election atmosphere in the country remains tense as people fear the outbreak of violence.

Journalist Francois Mbra joins us on the line from Yamoussokoro.