Ecuadorian voters are preparing to cast their ballots for a new president for the second time in 18 months amid an unprecedented security crisis in the country.

The president of violence-hit Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, claimed his razor-thin lead Monday in first-round voting as a win, despite a stronger-than-expected showing by his leftist challenger Luisa Gonzalez.

President Daniel Noboa, who is known for his aggressive law-and-order policies, failed to win a majority of votes in his re-election bid on Sunday.

President Daniel Noboa held a narrow lead in violence-hit Ecuador's election Sunday, amid a fierce challenge from a leftist rival who looked set to force a second-round run-off.

The Latin American country’s incumbent centre-right leader Daniel Noboa faces a tight race against left-wing challenger Luisa González.

Ecuador will choose its next president in a runoff election in April between conservative incumbent Daniel Noboa and leftist lawyer Luisa González.

Ecuador's presidential race will go to an April runoff if current trends in the count continue, Diana Atamaint, the head of the national electoral council said late on Sunday, as incumbent Daniel Noboa led leftist Luisa Gonzalez by less than 1% in the tally.

Ecuador’s center-right President Daniel Noboa is likely to fall short of securing an outright majority in the country’s general election, according to preliminary results Sunday, setting the stage for a run-off vote against his nearest leftist rival.

Incumbent President Daniel Noboa clutched onto a razor-thin lead in violence-hit Ecuador's election Sunday, after a stronger-than-expected challenge from a leftist rival who looked set to force a second-round run-off.