Gabon opposition candidate decries high court ruling
- by Leah Brady
- in Worldwide
- — Sep 29, 2016
Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping on Saturday rejected what he said was an "unjust" ruling by the Constitutional Court which upheld the victory of President Ali Bongo in the August 27 poll that he says was tarnished by fraud.
Ping's spokesman, Jean Gaspard, told reporters on Wednesday that results in his campaign's possession indeed showed that Bongo had won the province, but by a smaller margin of 89.17 percent with turnout of 81.67 percent.
The court announced early Saturday that incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba won the August 27 vote despite concerns raised by the opposition and worldwide observers.
The court refused to accept copies of vote tally sheets provided as evidence by Ping, many of which it said were illegible.
President Ali Bongo has hinted that his new government might include opposition figures including Jean Ping.
President of the Gabonese Constitutional Court Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo (C) takes her seat ahead of a hearing at the Constitutional Court in Libreville on September 22, 2016.
The Constitutional Court has until Friday to decide on Ping's complaint but authorities are already stepping up security in the capital Libreville, epicentre of the violence.
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The US embassy in Gabon called for the Constitutional Court to release details of its deliberations "to allow for transparency".
It was not immediately clear what additional recourse Ping might pursue in the aftermath of the announcement Bongo had won by 50.66 percent of the vote.
Ping has warned the country could face serious instability if the court rejects his appeal for a recount.
But a third of the population of 1.8 million live below the poverty line - a gap that has fuelled resentment towards a regime notorious for corruption.
In his legal challenge, Ping asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, a stronghold of the Bongo family who have ruled Gabon since 1967. Other provinces showed a 48 percent voter turnout on average, the European Union said.
Ping's supporters say "more than 50" people were killed in post-electoral violence but the interior ministry has put the toll at three dead.
At least seven people died during protests that erupted this month after the announcement of the election results.
