Most Controversial Presidential Wins in Africa 

There have been many controversial elections in Africa over time. In lots of African international locations, the election course of is marred by allegations of fraud, vote rigging, and different types of violence. Some African countries have tried to be clear whereas many nonetheless face vital challenges.

Many of those elections held are marked with violence, protests, and allegations of fraud and corruption which questions the necessity for clear democratic processes within the area.

Nonetheless, the dedication of a controversial election can differ relying on varied components, together with the political context, the character of the election, and the notion of various stakeholders. On this article, we’ll share some presidential elections that led to controversies.

Democratic Republic of Congo Presidential Election (2018)

The presidential election held within the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018 was extremely controversial, with allegations of vote-rigging and different irregularities. 

The opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu, claimed that he was the true winner of the election, however the electoral fee declared Felix Tshisekedi the winner.The election which had been postponed many occasions led to tensions and protest within the nation.

The president Joseph Kabila who had overstayed his constitutional time period restrict by being in energy since 2001 whose get together was the  Folks’s Celebration for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) was accused of delaying the elections as a way to maintain onto energy.

The elections lastly passed off on December 30, 2018,  with stories of vote rigging, poll stuffing, and intimidation of opposition supporters. The nation’s electoral fee thus delayed saying the outcomes, additional fueling suspicions of fraud.

Nonetheless, opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi was declared the winner of the presidential election, with 38.5% of the vote. Martin Fayulu, one other opposition get together who was extensively seen as the favourite to win, rejected the consequence and accused Tshisekedi of constructing a cope with Kabila to rig the vote.

Ultimately, the DRC’s Constitutional Court docket upheld Tshisekedi’s victory, dismissing Fayulu’s claims. The courtroom’s determination was not accepted by many, together with worldwide observers and a few African leaders, who mentioned it lacked credibility and legitimacy.

2021 Cameroonian Presidential Election

The election was held on October 7, 2018, with incumbent President Paul Biya searching for one other time period in workplace. There have been additionally considerations concerning the restricted participation of opposition events within the election, with some candidates withdrawing from the race citing varied causes resembling intimidation and violence.

There have been allegations of vote rigging and different types of electoral malpractice, with some opposition events rejecting the outcomes of the election. The federal government additionally shut down the web in some areas earlier than and in the course of the election, which raised considerations concerning the capacity of residents to entry info and talk concerning the election.

2016 Gabonese Presidential Election

The 2016 Gabonese Presidential Election was a extremely controversial election that sparked protests, violence together with worldwide criticism. The election was held on August 27, 2016, with incumbent President Ali Bongo searching for one other time period in workplace.

On August 31, 2016, the election outcomes have been introduced with Ali Bongo declared the winner by a slim margin. Nonetheless, the opposition led by Jean Ping rejected the outcomes and accused the federal government of electoral fraud.

The controversy additional led to a protracted political disaster in Gabon, with the opposition refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the federal government. The disaster was later resolved by way of a political dialogue moderated by the African Union.

2023 Nigerian Presidential Election

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the flag bearer of All Progressive Celebration (APC) has received a good race to succeed Muhammadu Buhari as the subsequent president of Nigeria within the simply concluded 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu was introduced because the winner by Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) after having glad the necessities of the legislation. 

Many Nigerian youths who supported Peter Obi, the flagbearer of Labour Celebration (LP)  noticed his win as a disappointment and that the technique and construction of the electoral course of was theft and violence. Supporters of Atiku Abubakar of the Folks’s Democratic Celebration (PDP) who was the third frontliner of the election noticed the entire election as sham and never an illustration of human rights. 

Tinubu received a complete of 12 states with a complete votes of 8,794,726 whereas Atiku received 11 states with a complete of 6,984,520 with Peter Obi profitable 11 states plus the FCT, leaving him with a complete of 6,101,533 votes. 

Yakubu who had carried out a number of elections since assuming workplace in 2015 was mentioned to have carried out probably the most controversial election in Nigeria. The presidential election he carried out in 2019 was criticized by the opposition for alleged irregularities resembling voter suppression and vote shopping for

The 2019 election was criticized by the opposition for alleged irregularities resembling voter suppression, vote shopping for, and intimidation. There have been additionally stories of violence in some elements of the nation in the course of the election, which resulted within the deaths of a number of folks. The opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenged the election ends in courtroom, alleging that the election was rigged in favor of the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari.