Senegal’s Constitutional Council has ruled President Macky Sall’s election postponement ratified by the National Assembly unlawful. 

In their judgement on Thursday, seven apex court members declared election postponement “contrary to the constitution.”

The court’s judgment came amid vehement protests by Senegalese challenging election postponement. Three persons have been killed in the protest so far. 

Earlier in the month, Mr Sall unanimously announced the postponement of the election scheduled for February 25.

Blocking internet access in the country on claims that it is delayed to spread hateful and subversive messages, the military forced opposition lawmakers out of the National Assembly, leaving 105 parliament members to ratify Mr Sall’s pronouncement. 

Senegal’s election postponement has generated both local and international condemnation, with the U.S., EU and ECOWAS calling for an urgent solution to the lingering political crisis in the country. 

Echoing the voices of many Senegalese protesting the postponement, Khalifa Sall, former minister and mayor of Dakar, said it “is a coup d’état that doesn’t speak its name. With the change in the law, he (President Sall) is entering a third term of office, even if it will be incomplete.”

However, Mr Sall denied trying to hold on to power, justifying election postponement to stabilise the country. 

“I am completely ready to pass the baton. I have always been programmed for that,” said Mr Sall. “I don’t want to leave behind a country that will immediately plunge into major difficulties.”

Mr Sall assumed office in 2012. He is at the twilight of his second constitutional tenure, which ends on April 2.