Gabon's constitutional court completes presidential result sheets verification

The verification of close to 2800 result sheets from Gabon’s recently held presidential election has been completed at the country’s constitutional court.

Sources say a final report summarizing the facts will be presented before the court later this Thursday evening.

Nine judges of the court as well as assistant judges and five jurists from the African Union have been supervising the process prompted by a petition from the opposition candidate Jean Ping.

The opposition handed over 174 result sheets from polling stations in Ali Bongo’s stronghold of Haut-Ogooué which it claims contains proof of Ping’s victory in that area.

Ali Bongo’s camp on the other hand, has also handed over result sheets it says shows rigging in opposition strongholds.

International attention has been focused on Gabon for nearly a month following violent protests by opposition supporters who accused Ali Bongo of rigging the poll.

Speaking to Foreignpolicy.com, Gabon’s ambassador to the US, Michael Moussa-Adamo, said Ping’s goal has been to create chaos so the international community could step in and rule Gabon.

The president’s camp also claims some ballots were burnt immediately after the vote, “making the ongoing process more of a review and tabulation than a recount.”

Gabon’s constitutional court is expected to deliver its verdict on the recount by September 23.