Gabon’s Junta Leader Brice Oligui Nguema Faces Three Opponents in Presidential Election

Brice Oligui Nguema to compete in Gabon’s presidential election against three candidates, including former PM Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze. Only four of 23 candidates were approved, with rejected candidates able to appeal. Oligui has pledged to restore civilian leadership after a transition and will run as an independent. Campaigning begins March 29, 2025.

In Gabon, military leader Brice Oligui Nguema is set to contest in the forthcoming presidential election scheduled for April 12, 2025, alongside three other candidates. Among these challengers is Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, former prime minister to the deposed President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is regarded as Oligui’s most formidable opponent. The election also features lawyer Joseph Lapensee Essingone and doctor Stéphane Germain Iloko Boussengui.

The Interior Minister, Hermann Immongault, announced that of the 23 candidates who applied, only four were approved to participate. The reasons for discarding the 19 other applications, which included trade union leader Jean-Remy Yama, were not disclosed; however, those candidates have the option to appeal to the Constitutional Court.

Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the military coup that toppled the Bongo dynasty, declared his candidacy on March 3. He has assured the populace that power will be returned to civilians following a transitional period. The recently enacted electoral code permits military members to run for office, thus facilitating Oligui’s presidential campaign as he filed to run as an independent candidate. Campaigning is scheduled to commence on March 29, though a date for a potential runoff remains unspecified.

In summary, Brice Oligui Nguema is positioned as a leading candidate in the Gabonese presidential election, facing significant competition from prominent individuals, including Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze. The election process allows military participation under a new electoral code, and as Oligui prepares for his campaign, he assures a transition back to civilian governance. This upcoming election signifies a pivotal moment in Gabon’s political landscape as it seeks democratic stability after military rule.

Original Source: newscentral.africa