AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
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Elections in Gabon
 
Political Profile
Political System: Restricted Democratic Practice
President: Omar Bongo Ondimba (PDG) [since 28 November 1967; succeeded Leon M’ba who died in office in 1967, re-elected 1973, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1993, 1998, and 2005] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 7-year term. Electoral System: First Past The Post. Note: Bongo changed his first name from Albert-Bernard to Omar in 1973. He added Ondimba to his name in late 2003.
Prime Minister: Jean Eyeghe Ndong (PDG) [since 20 January 2006] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
Parliament [bicameral]
--Senate (91 Seats) Members are indirectly elected by municipal councils and departmental assemblies; members serve 6-year terms.
--National Assembly (120 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in multi-member constituencies using the two-round (run-off) system; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1960-1968 Restricted Democratic Practice
1968-1990 One Party State (PDG)
1990         Multiparty Transition
1990-        Restricted Democratic Practice
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 6, Civil Liberties - 4, Status: Partly Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2012
Next Scheduled Senate Election: January 2009
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2011
Political Parties: ADERE - Democratic and Republic Alliance, BDG - Gabonese Democratic Bloc, CDJ - Congress for Democracy and Justice, CLR - Circle of Liberal Reformers, CONAB - National Confederation of Woodcutters Associations, CRP - Circle for Renewal and Progress, FAR - African Forum for Reconstruction, MAD - African Development Movement, MORENA-Bûcherons - National Recovery Movement-Woodcutters, MORENA-Originel - National Recovery Movement, PDG - Gabonese Democratic Party (authoritarian), PGP - Gabonese Party of Progress, PGP-Ndaot - Gabonese Progress Party-Ndaot faction (PGP-Ndaot), PSD - Social Democratic Party, PSG - Gabonese Socialist Party, PUP - People’s Unity Party, RDD - Rally of Democrats, RDP - Rally for Democracy and Progress, RDR - Rally of Republican Democrats, RNB - National Rally of Woodcutters (center-left), RNB-Kombila - National Rally of Woodcutters-Kombila, RNB-RPG - National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon, RPG - Rally for Gabon, UDSG - Gabonese Democratic and Social Union, UGDD - Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development, UPG - Union of the Gabonese People, USG - Gabonese Socialist Union.
 
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
     Multiparty: 1961, 1967, 1993, 1998, 2005
     Single Party: 1973, 1979, 1986
Legislative
     Multiparty: 1961, 1964, 1967, 1990, 1996, 2001, 2006
     Single Party: 1969, 1973, 1980, 1985
Referendum: 1995
 
 
February 1961 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Léon M'ba of the Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG) was elected president unopposed. No Figures Available.
 
February 1961 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

A joint list of candidates presented by the Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDC) and the Gabonese Democratic and Social Union (UDSG) was approved by the electorate. No Figures Available.
 
12 April 1964 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (47)

Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG)

 31

Gabonese Democratic and Social Union (UDSG)

 16

 
19 March 1967 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Léon M'ba of the Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG) was re-elected unopposed. No Figures Available.
*Léon M'ba died in office on 28 November 1967. His Vice President, Albert-Bernard (later Omar) Bongo became President and completed his term.
 
19 March 1967 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (47)

Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG)

47

 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)

16 February 1969 National Assembly Election

25 February 1973 Presidential Election (Albert-Bernard Bongo* re-elected unopposed)

25 February 1973 National Assembly Election

30 December 1979 Presidential Election (Omar Bongo re-elected unopposed)

25 February 1980 National Assembly Election (89 Seats)

31 March 1985 National Assembly Election (120 Seats)

09 November 1986 Presidential Election (Omar Bongo re-elected unopposed)

*Changed first name to Omar later in the year.
 
16 September, 21 & 28 October 1990 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (120)

Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)

63

National Recovery Movement-Woodcutters (MORENA-Bûcherons)

20

Gabonese Progress Party (PGP)

18

Others

19

 
05 December 1993 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (88.1%)

Candidate (Party)

% of Votes

Omar Bongo (PDG)

51.2%

Paul M’ba-Abessole (RNB)

26.5%

Pierre Louis Agondjo Okawe (PGP)

4.8%

10 Others

17.5%

 
23 July 1995 Referendum
Main Points: Implementation of the "Paris Accords", constitutional reforms agreed to in 1994 negotiations between the government and political opposition.

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (approx. 64%)

Results

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

96.48%

"No" Votes

03.52%

 
15 & 29 December 1996 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (120)

Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)

85

Gabonese Progress Party (PGP)

10

National Rally of Woodcutters (RNB)

07

Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR)

02

Gabonese Socialist Union (USG)

02

Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP)

01

Democratic and Republic Alliance (ADERE)

01

Congress for Democracy and Justice (CDJ)

01

African Forum for Reconstruction (FAR)

01

Union of the Gabonese People (UPG)

01

Circle for Renewal and Progress (CRP)

01

National Recovery Movement (MORENA-Originel)

01

Independents

07

 
12 December 1998 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (approx. 54%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

316,900

Candidate

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Omar Bongo (PDG)

211,955

66.88%

Pierre Mamboundou (UPG)

52,278

16.50%

Paul M’ba-Abessole (RNB)

41,701

13.16%

Pierre André Kombila (RNB)

4,847

1.53%

Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou (PSD)

3,152

0.99%

Alain Engouang Nze (CONAB)

2,967

0.94%

Martin Edzozomo Ela

Joseph-Adrien Mabicke

 
09 & 23 December 2001 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (120)

Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)

86

National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon (RNB-RPG)

08

Democratic and Republican Alliance (ADERE)

03

Gabonese Party of Progress (PGP)

03

Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR)

02

Congress for Democracy and Justice (CDJ)

01

African Development Movement (MAD)

01

Social Democratic Party (PSD)

01

National Rally of Woodcutters-Kombila (RNB-Kombila)

01

People’s Unity Party (PUP)

01

Independents

12

Vacant

01

*The election was postponed in one department following an outbreak of ebola fever. The poll was finally conducted on 26 May 2002, although its results are unknown.
 
27 November 2005 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

554,967

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

353,126 (63.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    4,782

Total Valid Votes

348,344

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Omar Bongo Ondimba (PDG)

275,819

79.18%

Pierre Mamboundou (UPG)

47,410

13.61%

Zacharie Myboto**

22,921

6.58%

Augustin Moussavou King (PSG)

1,149

0.33%

Christian Maronga (RDD)

1,045

0.30%

*Members of the Gabonese security forces voted on 25 November 2005.
**Zacharie Myboto ran as independent owing to the fact that his political party, the Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development (UGDD) [formed in early 2005] was not legalized prior to the election.
 
17 December 2006 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (120)

Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) & Allies

99

 

Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)

  

82

Rally for Gabon (RPG)

08

Democratic and Republic Alliance (ADERE)

03

Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR)

02

Social Democratic Party (PSD)

02

African Development Movement (MAD)

01

Rally of Republican Democrats (RDR)

01

Union of the Gabonese People (UPG)

08

Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development (UGDD)

04

Gabonese Progress Party-Ndaot faction (PGP-Ndaot)

02

African Forum for Reconstruction (FAR)

01

Congress for Democracy and Justice (CDJ)

01

National Rally of Woodcutters-Kombila (RNB-Kombila)

01

Independents

04

*Due to logistical problems, polling in seven electoral districts was delayed until 24 December 2006.