Gabon’s Constitutional Court Confirms Oligui Nguema’s Electoral Victory

Gabon’s constitutional court confirmed Gen. Oligui Nguema won the election with 94.85% of votes cast. He defeated former Prime Minister Bilie-By-Nze, who received 3%. Allegations of misuse of state resources emerged; however, election observers noted satisfactory conduct at polling stations. This election is a critical moment for Gabon after the recent coup that ended decades of the Bongo political dynasty.

Gabon’s constitutional court has confirmed the election victory of Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who is currently serving as the nation’s interim president following a coup earlier this year. On Friday, the court declared that he secured 58,074 votes, which translates to an impressive 94.85% of the total ballots cast in the presidential election held on April 12. This count is approximately 5% higher than the provisional results released previously by the Ministry of the Interior, demonstrating a significant increase.

In this election, Oligui Nguema faced seven challengers, with former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze finishing second with only 3% of the votes. The other six candidates failed to garner even 1% of the public support. Bilie-By-Nze alleged that Oligui Nguema utilized state resources for his campaign efforts; however, the government has refuted these claims.

Local observers assessed the election’s execution as satisfactory in nearly all monitored polling stations. The Constitutional Court reported a turnout rate of 70.11%, although the Interior Ministry’s initial announcement claimed a higher participation rate of 87.21%. Approximately 920,000 voters were eligible, including over 28,000 living abroad, across more than 3,000 polling locations.

This election marked a pivotal moment in Gabon’s political landscape, being the first since the 2023 military coup that dethroned a political dynasty enduring for over 50 years. The stakes were considered high for the country’s 2.3 million citizens, with a significant portion living in poverty despite Gabon’s oil wealth. Oligui Nguema, who previously led the Republican Guard, ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba and now aims to solidify his authority for a seven-year term. He is scheduled to be inaugurated on May 3.

In summary, Gabon’s constitutional court has affirmed Gen. Oligui Nguema’s election victory with nearly 95% of the votes. Accusations regarding misuse of state resources for his campaign persist, despite government denials. The election turnout and previous provisional results highlighted discrepancies, but the event marked a critical juncture for the country following a significant political transition. Oligui Nguema now sets his sights on consolidating power as he approaches his inauguration.

Original Source: www.newsday.com