Anonymous email from government communications department reveals hidden poll in favor of "no" and "plan B" for CEO
The Gabon2025 editorial team received an anonymous email last night, sent from the official email address of the government's communications department, and received by many other colleagues, revealing that the government is very concerned about an unfavorable poll on the upcoming constitutional referendum in Gabon. This unfavorable poll ( which you can consult here ) led the authorities to consider a plan B involving the PDG, who would be responsible for providing the necessary logistics to influence the electoral process and circumvent the situation.
According to this email, the poll, commissioned by OpinionWay for the Gabon24 channel, shows a clear tendency to reject the new constitution, with 52% of respondents expressing their intention to vote "No" . These results have caused a real state of panic among those close to the transitional president Brice Oligui Nguema, pushing certain figures of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) to consider a plan B. This plan includes logistical support from the PDG to carry out electoral maneuvers and influence the results of the referendum.
The message, signed "CN", states: "Faced with this observation, a plan to manipulate these results was mentioned, with the direct involvement of certain key figures of the Gabonese Democratic Party. This attempt at manipulation calls into question the transparency and integrity of the process, and goes against the trust that citizens must be able to place in their institutions." The email continues: "This type of behavior, far from meeting democratic expectations and the principles of good governance, can in no way be tolerated, when in reality, a few adjustments to the text would be enough to significantly meet the expectations of the people."
The poll, conducted between November 4 and 8, 2024, reveals striking trends: Gabonese youth (18-34 years old) overwhelmingly reject the proposed constitution, with 56% of young people surveyed declaring their intention to vote "No". On the other hand, people aged over 55 seem more inclined to support the new constitution.
Understanding the text appears to play a crucial role in the voting decision. Among those who have read the constitution, 75% plan to vote "No," and this percentage rises to 91% among those who say they have understood it well. The poll clearly states: "Among those who have understood the Constitution (partially or completely), 91% are voting 'No'." This shows that a deep understanding of the text strengthens opposition.
Doubts about Brice Oligui Nguema’s ability to govern?
The reasons given by opponents of the referendum are multiple: the concentration of powers in the hands of the president (20%), the PDG's support for the "Yes" vote (18%), and the lack of significant reforms during the 15-month transition led by Brice Oligui (13%). These arguments reflect a growing fear of repeating past mistakes, a doubt in Oligui's ability to govern, with a hyper-presidentialization that risks reinforcing authoritarian tendencies. As the poll specifies: "The main concern lies in the excessive centralization of powers around the presidency. Voters fear that this hyper-presidentialization limits democracy and allows for unbalanced governance, reinforcing concerns of authoritarianism."
Who is CN?
The email received by our editorial staff highlights an alleged strategy to conceal the results of the poll, an electoral maneuver that would directly involve figures from the PDG to influence the vote. This attempt, if it turns out to be real, raises serious questions about the integrity of Gabonese institutions and the trust that citizens can place in them.
"This type of behavior, far from meeting democratic expectations and the principles of good governance, cannot be tolerated under any circumstances," adds the author of the email.
This situation echoes dark episodes in Gabon's political history, where manipulation of public opinion has often been used to maintain power. It is imperative that this information be made public, so that everyone can understand the issues at stake and mobilize to ensure a transparent and democratic process.
What should we expect? Should we be worried?
Many questions remain unanswered: why did the government choose to hide this unfavourable poll? Is this a sign that alternative measures are already being considered to control the result of the referendum? Who are the actors really involved in this proposed plan B? Will this referendum be a genuine democratic exercise or a mere political façade intended to consolidate the power in place?
If the accusations of manipulation are proven, they risk not only discrediting the entire process, but also deeply disappointing those who were hoping for genuine change. At stake is not only the validity of the referendum, but the confidence of the Gabonese people in their institutions and their ability to build a democratic future.
Our mission is to continue investigating this case and keep our readers informed of developments. The voice of the people must remain at the center of this process, without any influence or manipulation.
