The heated campaign period had revived concerns about unrest as political rivals clashed, sometimes violently.Â
The West African nation endured some of the worst political violence in its recent history ahead of the presidential election in March.
Faye, who is seeking a clear parliamentary majority to implement his promised reform agenda, urged the electorate to remain calm no matter the outcome, as he voted in his home town of Ndiaganiao on Sunday.
"I once again call on voters ... to show serenity, commit to the peaceful route, and to accept the popular will that will be expressed through the ballot box," he said.
It is not clear when provisional results will be announced, but tallies from polling stations showed Faye's Pastef party with a sizeable lead, a source in the interior ministry said.
These results led the mayor of the capital Dakar, Barthelemy Dias, and the leader of the Gueum Sa Bopp Les Jambars party to concede the race to Pastef.
"I would like to congratulate Pastef, the winner of the election," said Dias, who is head of one of the opposition coalitions, SAMM Sa Kaddu.
The main threat to the ambitions of Faye's Pastef party is the unexpected alliance of two opposition parties, including the Republic party (APR) headed by former prime minister Macky Sall. This coalition has yet to comment on the results.
