Republic of Congo's opposition cries foul over recent local and legislative elections

After its victory in the 2016 presidential election, the Republic of Congo’s labour party won majority seats in the local and legislative elections.

Opposition parties have faulted the electoral body for running shambolic elections in favour of the ruling labour party that garnered 450 seats out of 1158 seat according to official results.

The Pan-African Union for Social Democracy party also expressed its dissatisfaction with the polls raising questions why it could not even achieve to win 54 seats.

Other opposition parties including the ‘trois palmiers’ further faulted the electoral commission and warned that it may push the matter to the courts.

Previously the head of the country’s electoral body, Henri Bouka, said that the first round of the legislative and local elections held on July 16 went well.

A boycott of the polls by a section of the opposition did not seem to affect the process

Over 700 candidates contested for 151 seats in the National Assembly while over 80,000 others vied for 1,158 seats for the position of local councilors.