LIBREVILLE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some 628,124 registered voters, out of a population of 1.8 million people, are expected to turn up at polling stations to elect the next president of the Republic of Gabon for the next seven years.
A source from the National Autonomous and Permanent Electoral Commission (CENAP) told Xinhua voting began Saturday on time in almost all polling stations in the capital Libreville.
In other polling stations, the operation began later. CENAP representatives and police officers arrived on time but representatives of political parties, both the opposition and ruling party, arrived late.
For instance, at the polling station No. 1 situated at Cite Damas public school in Libreville's 4th district, the first voter cast his vote at 7:52 a.m. yet the voting exercise was scheduled to start at 7 a.m. (local time).
Hundreds of voters who were carrying their voter's cards and identity cards had to patiently wait on the queue for their chance to vote.
Incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba is contesting against nine opposition candidates, but his closest challenger is Jean Ping, the former chairman of the African Union Commission.
Four presidential candidates have withdrawn from the race and thrown their support behind Ping. They include ex-prime minister Casimir Oye Mba, ex-head of parliament Guy Nzouba Ndama, Leon Paul Ngoulakia who is a cousin to Bongo and independent candidate Roland Desire Aba'a Minko.
Polling stations will closet at 6 p.m. (local time) and counting will start immediately. According to CENAP president Rene Aboghe Ella, official results will be known 72 hours after the voting exercise.
