Gabon Constitutional Court Confirms Oligui Nguema’s Presidential Victory

Gabon’s constitutional court confirmed Oligui Nguema’s presidential election victory with 94.85% of the vote. He defeated seven opponents, including former Prime Minister Bilie-By-Nze, who claimed Nguema misused state resources. Election observers deemed the process satisfactory, but turnout numbers were contested. This election is crucial for Gabon following a coup that toppled a long-standing political regime.

In a significant development for Gabon, the constitutional court verified on Friday that General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the interim president who recently executed a coup, has officially won the presidential election held on April 12. Nguema garnered a staggering 58,074 votes, which translates to 94.85% of the total votes cast, as per the final tally from the Constitutional Court. His support notably rose nearly 5% from earlier provisional results released the following day by the Ministry of the Interior.

Competing against a field of seven candidates, the former head of the Republican Guard easily outpaced his nearest rival, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, the previous Prime Minister, who managed a meager 3% of the votes. The remaining candidates each failed to reach even 1%. Bilie-By-Nze alleged through The Associated Press that Nguema utilized state resources to bolster his electoral campaign, a claim the government has categorically disputed.

Local election observers reported that the electoral processes were satisfactory in almost all monitored polling stations. The Constitutional Court stated that voter turnout for the election stood at 70.11%, involving about 920,000 registered voters, including over 28,000 from abroad, across more than 3,000 polling locations. Initially, the Interior Ministry had declared a significantly higher turnout rate of 87.21% based on provisional figures.

This election marked Gabon’s first since the military coup that dispensed with a political dynasty that had persisted for five decades. For the nation of roughly 2.3 million, a third of whom live under poverty despite the country’s substantial oil reserves, this election was viewed as vital. Oligui Nguema aims to solidify his control during his anticipated seven-year term, with his inauguration scheduled for May 3.

In conclusion, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s election victory signifies a notable shift in Gabon’s political landscape following the military coup that ended a lengthy political dynasty. His substantial majority reflects a decisive mandate, although issues of election integrity and use of state resources have stirred controversy. Gabon’s future trajectory will be closely watched as Nguema moves to consolidate his power in the coming years, amidst prevailing socio-economic challenges.

Original Source: www.newsday.com