The people of Seychelles voted on Saturday in a runoff between President Wavel Ramkalawan and opposition challenger Patrick Herminie, whose party seeks a return to power after previously ruling the country for four decades.

There was no outright winner in elections held two weeks ago, with Herminie receiving 48.8% of the vote and Ramkalawan getting 46.4%, according to official results.

A candidate needs to win more than 50% of the vote to be declared victorious.

Early voting started on Thursday, but most Seychellois are voting on Saturday.

Polling stations opened shortly after 7 a.m. local time and results are expected on Sunday.

The contest between Herminie and Ramkalawan is widely seen as a tight race.

Both candidates have run spirited campaigns as they try to address key issues for voters, including environmental damage and a crisis of drug addiction in a country long seen as a tourist haven.

AP video shot by Emilie Chetty