The United States has doubted the credibility of the results of the elections which was conducted in Equatorial Guinea on the 20th November 2022, over allegation of irregularities.
In a statement released by the State Department Spokesman, Ned Price on Tuesday, it was noted that election observers, civil society groups, and opposition parties have made credible allegations of significant election-related irregularities which includes documented instances of fraud, intimidation, and coercion.
According to the statement, “These allegations include restrictions on the ability of representatives of political parties to access polling stations, repeat voting, pre-filling of Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) ballots, non-secret voting booths, and heavily armed soldiers within 20 meters of voting booths.
The United States also concerned by irregular counting practices that favor the party in power, including the counting of unopened ballots in favor of the PDGE and the counting of ballots without all political parties represented.
United States stated further that these irregularities would violate Equato-guinean law. “Given the scale of irregularities observed and the announced results giving the PDGE 94.9% of the vote, we have serious doubts about the credibility of the announced results”.
Adding that, “Elections are an opportunity for a government and political parties to tangibly demonstrate their commitment to democratic principles”.
The United States urged Equatoguinean authorities to work with all stakeholders including the full spectrum of political organizations and non-partisan civil society organizations to fully address these credible allegations of voter fraud and to take steps to permit the expression of diverse political perspectives.
Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema won re-election with 95% of the November 20 vote and his party took all the senate and parliament seats, his son Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue said on Twitter on Saturday.
Obiang’s ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and coalition won the full 55 seats in the senate and the 100 seats in the lower house, known as the Chamber of Deputies. The President can now appoint the remaining 15 senate seats, his son said.
The West African country of around 1.5 million people has had only two Presidents since independence from Spain in 1968. Obiang ousted his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema in a coup in 1979, while a win would given Obiang, 80, a sixth term in office, extending his 43-year rule and cementing his place as the world’s longest-standing ruler.