Chadian opposition leader wants probe of military vote in April 10 polls

A Chadian opposition leader, Saleh Kebzabo has called for an independent investigation into how the military voted during the country’s April 10 presidential election.

His call follows the disappearance of about sixty soldiers, some of whose bodies were found in a river after the poll.

The missing soldiers are believed to have voted against the incumbent president, Idriss Deby who is seeking a fifth term in office.

The recovered bodies of the soldiers were said to have borne marks of torture.

Very serious allegations from #Kebzabo #Chad #tchad https://t.co/XCRgWREBug via RFIAfrique

— Celeste Hicks (ChadCeleste) April 19, 2016

Saleh Kebzabo told a press conference on Monday that the army’s vote was “totally discredited” since the absence of voting booths compelled voters to vote for Idriss Deby.

He added that those who did not “follow the instructions of their superiors were arrested, (and) thrown in jail.”

Nomads and the military voted on April 9, a day before the rest of the population voted in the presidential election contested by thirteen candidates.

Results from Chad’s presidential election have still not been released. But the opposition is bracing itself for a runoff poll.

A spokesperson for the opposition, Mahamat Ahmad Alhabo, said at the weekend that a tally of results from all polling stations by representatives of the opposition, indicate that no candidate has secured enough votes to win the first round.

They have therefore warned that they will not accept any results that states otherwise.

News Agencies