Why was Hama Amadou campaigning from prison during the 2016 election?

During the 2016 presidential election in Niger, Hama Amadou campaigned from a prison cell because he had been jailed in November 2015 on charges of involvement in a baby-trafficking ring, allegations he denied.1

Although a court of appeals denied his request for release on bail, the country’s Constitutional Court permitted him to remain a candidate in the election. Amadou, representing the Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation, ultimately advanced to a runoff against the incumbent, Mahamadou Issoufou, before being flown abroad for medical treatment prior to the final vote.12