Final phase of revision of electoral lists begins in January 2016.

Preparations for the legislative and presidential elections expected in 2016 are accelerating with aspirants  in the race for the presidency  both  from the opposition and the governing Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)  of  President Ali Bongo Ondimba already combing the field,  testing the grounds and laying solid foundations  to woo electors.

As political parties fine-tune their strategies, government is also leaving no stone unturned to ensure transparent, fair and successful polls with focus now on  ensuring the maximum enrolment of electors. Interior Minister Pacôme Moubelet Boubeya on Thursday, December 17, 2015 told political party leaders that the final phase of the revision of the electoral lists ahead of the elections would begin in January 2016.

He said the operation that will concern Gabonese at home and in the Diaspora will last only for 45 days, Gabon Actu reported.  Gabon’s Constitution provides that Gabonese citizens in the Diaspora can only participate in voting the President of the Republic.

The country’s constitution amended in 2003 does not limit the number of terms for the President of the Republic. It is for this reason that speculations are high that President Ali Bongo Ondimba will be seeking re-election for the second term of office.  He acceded to power in 2009 through anticipated elections due to the death of his father President Omar Bongo Ondimba. The opposition has reportedly been calling for the revision of the constitution to institute limitations in the number of terms of office a president can serve. This obviously seems an arduous task for the opposition considering that they have only three out of the 125 seats in the National Assembly.