The people of Gabon, both nationwide and abroad, voted 91.8% in favor of a new constitution on Saturday, Gabonese Minister of the Interior and Security Hermann Immongault reported.
"We have the following results for Gabon. 868,115 registered voters, 463,066 votes cast, 8,893 blank or invalid ballots, 454,173 "Yes" votes, 416,983 votes cast, which is 91.80%. There were 37,302 "No" votes, or 8.20%," Immongault said in an official speech livestreamed on social media by the Ministry of Interior and Security.
According to the minister, the turnout in Saturday's referendum was 53.54%, lower than the 71% reported in the preliminary figures released yesterday by the Ministry of Interior and Security.
"The people of Gabon have largely accepted the new Constitution in a referendum. This is a decisive step towards a new Gabon based on democracy, unity and justice," Gabon's interim president Brice Oligui Nguema stated on his social media.
The draft constitution would introduce presidential term limits (two seven-year terms) and restrictions on candidates for the country's top job, as well as abolish the prime minister's position, officially recognize French as the working language and impose compulsory military service along with other points.