Incumbent Nkurunziza Emerges Winner Of Controversial Burundi’s Poll

Posted by African Examiner African News, Featured, Latest Headlines Friday, July 24th, 2015

By Ayo Balogun – President Pierre Nkurunziza has emerged the winner of Burudian controversial Presidential election for the third term.

The provisional result available with the embattled eastern African country’s Electoral Commission, indicated that incumbent Nkurunziza won about 70 per cent of the total valid vote cast, leaving the opposition candidate, Agathon Rwasa winning about 19 per cent of the vote, after his was featured in the ballot paper, despite boycott.

Announcement and declaration of final and official results are expected to be made next week.

Ironically, the turnout of eligible voters was about 73 per cent, with the capital Bujumbura, which recorded most of the protests, recording poor and low participation.

Nkurunziza’s re-election bid has sparked off violence and protest, since April this year. Amidst the protest, there was a foiled coup attempt. The lingering protest has sent no fewer than 70 Burudians to their early graves, while many have fled the country to neighbouring country for safety.

The government has persistently blamed the violence on the opposition. Nkurunziza’s political ambition has been roundly condemned and described by the opposition as “illegal” due to restriction to two terms by the country’s constitution provision.

Meanwhile, regional and international bodies, including the US State Department have faulted the poll, saying the exercise did not meet an acceptable standard and conditions for credible and free elections. Specifically, the US State Department has declared the election lacked credibility.