afrol News, 30 November - Equatorial Guinea's president, Teodor Obiang Nguema, has won over 90 percent of the votes from the quarter of the ballots counted in the west African state, according to preliminary results published on the government website. The official election results are expected on 7 December.

President Obiang who has ruled the country since 1979, when he seized power from his uncle in a coup, was widely criticised for not putting in place mechanisms to enable free and fair polls.

He was further accused by human rights groups of dominating the state media, giving other parties a minimal platform on the government media.

However, the country’s main opposition party have vowed not to accept the Sunday polls results, alleging that the elections were not free and fair.

Opposition leader, Placido Mico Abogo said government agents voted in place of the public and some polling stations closed earlier than the time stipulated, restricting registered voters from casting their voting.

He said the elections were flawed by the ruling party, as it failed to level the playing field for all political parties.

In 2002, President Obiang took 97.1 percent of the vote, promising this time around to improve on the 2002 results.

The government has reportedly hired the influential Washington PR agency Qorvis to make sure the message of democracy reaches US policy-makers, and to clear the country’s reputation.

Just before the elections, the ruling party through its lobbying organisation, pledged its commitment to free and fair elections.

The country has an estimated 291,000 registered voters out of a population of 500,000.

President Obiang surprised everybody on 15 October when calling for anticipated elections to be held already on 29 November. The government went a step further with a pardon of and freeing of British and South African mercenaries that stood behind an alleged coup in 2004.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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