In partial legislative elections held on June 6, the ruling Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG) and the new opposition coalition Union National (UN) split the four seats in which they were competing head to head, according to the AFP. Only eight total seats, five in the lower house and three in the senate, were contested, hardly enough to dent the sizeable majority of the PDG in both houses. The PDG has held power throughout the 42 year reign of former President Omar Bongo, which ended with his death year ago. His son, Ali Bongo, was elected president in August 2009 running on the PDG ticket.
Eight seats were up for grabs, yet the four which pitted PDG and UN candidates against one another were the most politically significant.
First seat of the 2nd arrondissment of Libreville
Jean Eyeghe Ndong (UN) vs. Paul Mba Abessole (RPG)
In 2006 these two fought for the same seat, but with Ndong running as a member of the PDG and Abessole in the opposition
Jean Eyeghe Ndong was the last prime minister under Omar Bongo
Now he is the vice president of the UN
Won the same seat as a PDG candidate in the 1996 parliamentary elections
Lost the same seat in 2001 elections to Paul Mba Abessole (RNB-RPG)
Became Prime Minister of Gabon and VP of the PDG in 2006
Defeated Abessole (who was deputy PM) for the same seat in 2006 legislative elections
Defeated Abessole again in the 2008 elections
After Omar Bongo died in 2009 Ndong wanted to be the PDG’s candidate for president
When Ali Bongo was named as the PDG’s candidate, Jean Eyeghe Ndong left the party, resigning as its VP and giving up his position as PM of Gabon
Claimed that the choice of Ali Bongo was not backed by a consensus, and thus internal party rules were not followed
"Gabon: « La procédure arrêtée pour sélectionner le candidat dans notre parti n’a pas été respectée », Jean Eyeghé Ndong (Premier Ministre démissionnaire)", Gabonews, 17 July 2009
in early August he called for all the opposition to rally behind a single candidate
chaired a meeting of various opposition figures, who held a ballot that nominated Andre Mba Obame
Ndong then backed Obame
At the end of 2009 was one of the founding members of the Union National, becoming one of its VPs
Nephew of Leon M’ba
Paul Mba Abessole
Priest, went into exile in France in 1976
Harsh critic of Bongo’s PDG one-party rule
Tried to stand in elections against Omar Bongo in 1979 elections
Allowed to return in 1989
Offered a post in the government, but refused
Stood in the 1990 parliamentary elections, lost, alleged fraud
Ran against Bongo in the first multiparty presidential elections in 1993
Received 26.5% of the vote, to Bongo’s 51.2%, reuters reported that exit polls gave
Bongo 37%
Mba Abessole declared that he was the winner, formed his own government
Riots followed, and his house was destroyed by the presidential guard, goes to Paris
PM Casimir Oye Mba offered to include Mba Abessole’s RNB party in the government, Mba Abessole declined to participate
Declined to participate in a government of national unity after the Paris Accords of 10/94
Became mayor of Libreville in 1996
Came third in the 1998 presidential elections with 13.6%, had lost some credibility as an opposition candidate
Won the 1st seat of the 2nd Arrondisement of Libreville in the December 2001 parliamentary election, defeating Eyeghe Ndong
Dec 2006 parliamentary elections Mba Abessole loses the his seat to PM Eyeghe Ndong
Appointed Deputy PM
Dec 2008 local elections Eyeghe Ndong defeats Mba Abessole again for same seat
After death of Bongo decided to run as the RPG candidate for president
Was part of meeting held by Ndong in which they agreed to drop out of the race in favor of Andre Mba Obame
Médouneu
Andre Mba Obame (UN) vs. Augustin Békalé Be Nzue (RPG)
Andre Mba Obame
Advisor to Bongo in 1980s, then given a Portfolio in 1990
Considered, along with Ali Bongo, to be a reformist
1991 law requires ministers to be at least 35, so forced to give up post
won a seat in the National Assembly in 1996 and again became a Minister and government spokesman
held several different Ministries
December 2006 Parliamentary elections elected as the PDG candidate for Medouneu
Becomes Interior Minister
After the PDG chose Ali Bongo as its candidate in 2009 elections
Augustin Békalé Be Nzue – just a RPG member
Ntoum
Casimir Oyé-Mba (UN) vs. Julien Nkoghé Békalé (PDG)
Casimir Oyé-Mba
Became PM of Gabon in 1990
Won a seat in the National Assembly later in 1990
Bongo’s campaign manager in 1993
Replace as PM after Paris Accords 1994 mandated a power sharing agreement
Served as the Minister of several portfolios
Reelected to the NA for Ntoum in 1996 and 2001
December 2006 parliamentary elections wins Ntoum seat again
After nine years as minister of state for planning his portfolio was changed to Minister of State for Mines, Petroleum, Oil, Energy, Water Resources and the Promotion of New Energies
Submitted application to become PDG’s presidential candidate
When Ali Bongo chosen as PDG candidate, Oye-Mba decides to leave the PDG and run as an independent
Did not back the candidacy of Mba Obame and remained in the race, only to withdraw on election day over concerns of violence.
Despite this came in fifth
Created the UN with others and became one of its VPs
Julien Nkoghe Bekale a relative unknown before being named the Minister of Oil and Mines in October 2009.
af.reuters.com/article/gabonNews/idAFLH55383020091017 –
Mulundu
Paulette Missambo (UN) vs. Régis Immongault (PDG)
Paulette Missambo
