Voters in Gabon were called to the polls on Saturday for a triple election in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, scion of a family that has ruled for 55 years, is seeking victory over a belatedly-united opposition. Bongo and main rival Albert Ondo Ossa lead a race of 14 candidates vying for the top job in the small oil-rich central African state. The 64-year-old incumbent is seeking a third term after taking office in 2009, succeeding his father Omar, who died after more than 41 years in power. But as polling day loomed, a storm erupted over a purported conversation between Ondo Ossa and a fellow opposition figure. The conversation -- recorded without the pair's knowledge and disseminated on social media -- refer to various strategies "to create a power struggle" and support from other countries.

Bongo has accused the pair of treason, saying the remarks reflect a plot to take over with the help of "foreign powers." At an eve-of-election rally attended by tens of thousands of supporters in Libreville, Bongo charged that the two sought to "destroy this country." "We won't let them to do it," he cried. Onda Ossa, a 69-year-old economics professor who served as a minister under Bongo from 2006 to 2009, was chosen by the main opposition grouping, Alternance 2023, as its joint candidate just eight days before the election. Alternance 2023 this week issued a statement strongly denying the "veracity and authenticity of this conversation" and accused the government of "shameful manipulation."

For years, Bongo, who once had ambitions to be a funk singer before being groomed for politics, struggled in the shadow of his charismatic father. In 2016, he was narrowly re-elected with just 5,500 more votes than his rival, who claimed the election had been fixed. The announcement of the results sparked violence in the capital Libreville that left five dead, according to the government. The opposition says 30 people were shot dead by the security forces. In October 2018, Bongo suffered a stroke that sidelined him for 10 months. His prolonged absence stoked claims he was unfit to rule effectively and fuelled a minor attempted coup. He returned to work after his convalescence bent on showing himself to be a man of rigour, keen to root out "traitors" and "profiteers" in his inner circle.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)