Brice Oligui Nguema Faces Three Challengers in Gabon Presidential Election
Gabon’s military leader Brice Oligui Nguema will run against three candidates, including former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, in the upcoming presidential election. Interior Minister Hermann Immongault reported that only four out of 23 candidacies were approved, with 19 candidates rejected. Oligui has promised a return to civilian rule while being allowed to run under the new electoral code.
In Gabon, military leader Brice Oligui Nguema is preparing for the presidential election on April 12, where he will face three challengers. Among them, Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, the last prime minister under the ousted Ali Bongo Ondimba, is viewed as the most formidable opponent. The other candidates consist of lawyer Joseph Lapensee Essingone and doctor Stephane Germain Iloko Boussengui.
Interior Minister Hermann Immongault announced that 23 individuals had submitted their candidacy, although only four were deemed admissible. The 19 rejected candidates included prominent figures such as leading trade unionist and senator Jean-Remy Yama, whose exclusions have not been explained.
Oligui, who declared his intention to run on March 3, promised to restore civilian governance in Gabon. This intention follows a newly enacted electoral code, approved by the transitional parliament, that permits active army officers to contest elections. When submitting his candidacy, Oligui indicated that he had received approval from the Ministry of Defense to relinquish his military uniform for the duration of the election.
Brice Oligui Nguema is set to contest the presidential election in Gabon against three opponents, predominantly Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze. The selection process has led to the exclusion of 19 candidates, prompting concerns regarding transparency. Oligui’s candidacy is underpinned by a recent amendment allowing military personnel to stand for election, indicating a significant shift in Gabon’s political landscape.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
