Oligui Nguema’s Presidential Election Victory Confirmed by Gabon’s Court
Gabon’s constitutional court has confirmed Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s victory in the April 12 presidential election, with a reported 94.85% of the vote. He faced opposition from several candidates, notably Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who garnered only 3%. Allegations of campaign resource misuse have arisen, though the government disputes these claims. The election reflects a pivotal moment for Gabon following a recent coup.
In a significant development within Gabon’s political landscape, the constitutional court has confirmed Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema as the winner of the presidential election held on April 12. Oligui Nguema, currently the interim president following a coup in 2023, secured an impressive 94.85% of the total votes, totaling 58,074. This figure marks an increase of nearly 5% from earlier provisional results released by the Ministry of the Interior just after the elections.
Oligui Nguema faced off against seven candidates, with Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, the former Prime Minister, finishing a distant second with only 3%. The remaining candidates did not manage to reach even a 1% share. Bilie-By-Nze has claimed that Oligui Nguema utilized state resources to aid his campaign, a charge the government has categorically denied.
The election also saw a reported voter turnout of 70.11%, with around 920,000 registered voters participating across over 3,000 polling stations. Notably, previous announcements from the Interior Ministry had suggested a significantly higher turnout of 87.21%. Election observers reported that the electoral process was largely satisfactory in the polling stations they monitored.
This election is particularly pivotal as it marks the first electoral exercise since a military coup brought an end to decades of rule by the Bongo political dynasty. Despite Gabon’s considerable oil wealth, about one third of its 2.3 million population lives in poverty, making this election a pivotal moment for the country. Oligui Nguema, having ousted longtime President Ali Bongo Ondimba nearly two years ago, is looking to solidify his authority and is set to be inaugurated on May 3.
The confirmation of Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s election underscores a critical turning point in Gabon’s political history following a coup that rearranged the country’s leadership. With startlingly high electoral support, concerns over state resource misuse linger, alongside significant voter participation despite conflicting turnout figures. As Gabon navigates this new chapter, the impact of such a transition will be keenly observed both locally and internationally.
Original Source: www.newsday.com
