He’s banking on the country’s 6.5 million voters favoring him over three other candidates because of impressive infrastructure projects introduced since he took power in 2012.

Today elections are the first since Senegalese voted in a referendum to reduce the presidential term from seven to five years. 

There’s unhappiness that Sall’s two major rival Karim Wade – son of former president Abdoulaye Wade – and former Dakar Mayor Khalifa Sall have been excluded from running because of corruption convictions.

Sall’s banking on voters showing their appreciation for delivery of a new long bridge between Gambia and Senegal, a new airport, a futuristic city of Diamniado, a railway and the Museum of African History.

More than half the population who live under the poverty line say these projects do to alleviate their plight.

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President Macky Sall is favoured to win the contest.

The most colourful and controversial element of the election was the return  of former president Abdoulaye Wade to the fray.

Now 91 years old, he controversially contested the election but failed to win  a third term in power in February 2012.

Wade will head a list of opposition candidates for parliament after a broad opposition coalition of more than 40 parties broke up.

The other break-away faction is led by incarcerated Mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall, no relation to the president, who was jailed in March over allegations of embezzling about $2.9 million.

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