Voters in Niger are heading to the polls to vote in a controversial constitutional referendum that would allow President Mamadou Tandja to run for election indefinitely, despite vocal protests from the political opposition and abroad.

Tandja formally marked the start of voting by casting his ballot at a polling booth at city hall in the capital, Niamey.
 
A majority “yes” vote on the new constitution would repeal term limits to allow Tandja to remain in power past the Dec. 22 expiration of his current term until 2012, and then stand for re-election indefinitely.

Africa's constitutional flip-flops Changing the constitution to remain in power

Tandja, 71, dissolved both the country’s parliament and its constitutional court in June for opposing the referendum. He subsequently declared a state of emergency, a move that has allowed him to assume emergency powers and rule by decree.  
   
His actions led to street protests and strikes in Niamey and elsewhere, and the opposition has urged a massive boycott of the referendum.

Opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou launched a final appeal on Tuesday for the country’s six million eligible voters to boycott the vote, calling it “illegal”.

"The CFDR (anti-referendum coalition) reiterates its call for all citizens of Niger, all sincere democrats and all patriots, to mobilise against this illegal referendum," he said.

'Kalashnikovs on the ground'

The opposition has made clear that it is prepared to use “all legal means” to try to prevent the poll from going ahead, says FRANCE 24’s special correspondent in Niamey, Melissa Bell.