Gabon Constitutional Court Confirms Oligui Nguema’s Election Victory

Gabon’s Constitutional Court has confirmed Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s victory in the April 12 presidential election, where he secured 94.85% of the votes. This election, the first since the recent military coup, comes amid allegations of campaign irregularities. Voter turnout was reported at 70.11%, notably lower than earlier figures. Oligui Nguema, aiming for a seven-year term, will be inaugurated on May 3.

The Constitutional Court of Gabon has confirmed Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s victory in the presidential election held on April 12, amidst much attention following his coup earlier this year. The election results show that Oligui Nguema received 58,074 votes, which translates to a staggering 94.85% of the votes cast, according to the court’s final tally. His official count notably rose by nearly five percent compared to the provisional results released by the Ministry of the Interior.

In this election, Oligui Nguema faced off against seven rival candidates, with Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, the former Prime Minister, coming in a distant second with only 3%. Unfortunately for the other six candidates, none managed to secure even 1% of the votes. Bilie-By-Nze recently asserted that Oligui Nguema exploited state resources for his campaign, a claim that the current government firmly denies.

Observers who monitored the election expressed that the overall conduct was satisfactory in most polling stations. The Constitutional Court reported a voter turnout of 70.11% for this significant election, in which about 920,000 registered voters, including more than 28,000 individuals overseas, participated across over 3,000 polling stations. Contrastingly, the Interior Ministry’s provisional results suggested a much higher turnout of 87.21% the day after the election.

This election marks the first since the military coup in 2023, which ended a political dynasty that had spanned over half a century. With a population of 2.3 million, Gabon faces challenges; about one-third live in poverty despite the country’s considerable oil wealth. Oligui Nguema, who previously led the Republican Guard, ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba nearly two years ago. He is now set to be inaugurated and aims to solidify his authority over a proposed seven-year term beginning May 3.

In summary, Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s confirmation as the victor of the Gabon presidential election underscores a significant political shift in the nation. With an overwhelming majority of the votes, he aims to establish a stable regime after leading a coup earlier this year. Despite allegations regarding campaign irregularities, local observers noted the election’s conduct was satisfactory, amidst contrasting reports on voter turnout. This election serves as a pivotal moment for Gabon’s future amidst lingering economic challenges.

Original Source: www.newsday.com