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Guinea president takes big lead in re-election bid, seeks to avoid runoff

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2013 file photo Guinean President Alpha Conde addresses reporters following his meeting with French President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Guinea's President Alpha Conde is on track to win another term in office after taking a strong lead in partial results from the election on Sunday Oct. 11, 2015, according to the election commission. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this file photo taken Sunday Oct. 11, 2015, Guinean opposition presidential candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo, of the UFDG party, prepares to cast his vote during presidential elections in the Bambeto neighbourhood of Conakry, Guinea. Guinea’s President Alpha Conde could win another term in office after clinching a lead in partial results from Sunday’s election, according to the election commission. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah, File) (The Associated Press)

This photo taken Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, shows a billboard with the face of Guinea’s incumbent President Alpha Conde in Conakry, Guinea. Guinea’s President Alpha Conde could win another term in office after clinching a lead in partial results from Sunday’s election, according to the election commission. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah) (The Associated Press)

Early results from Guinea's presidential election show incumbent Alpha Conde with far more votes than his closest competitor and possibly enough to avoid a runoff.

The latest tallies available Saturday at the electoral commission showed Conde with 2.2 million votes, more than 1 million more than leading opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo.

More than 90 percent of votes cast Oct. 11 had been counted. Figures from Friday pointed to a turnout of around 66 percent of 6 million registered voters.

The electoral commission is expected to announce provisional results Saturday. The race will go to a runoff if Conde does not get 50 percent of the votes cast.

Diallo withdrew from the process earlier this week, alleging fraud. He was expected to make a statement at midday.