Some opposition observers have decried what they allege to be irregularities in ongoing voting in Chad’s presidential election.
An election observer from the opposition Transformers’ Party, who was at a polling station in the 7th district of the capital, N’Djamena, questioned ballot paper records and voting conduct.
“The number of registered voters here is 226… But ANGE [the electoral body], only submitted 156 ballot papers. Where are the remaining 70 ballot papers?”, Gauthier Saldnba said, adding “there’s a problem here.”
But Kaigo Patcha, an election official, said it was a genuine lack of ballot papers rather than foul play, insisting “we have already called those in charge, and they’ll soon bring the remaining ballot papers”.
There are also report of some electoral officers not allowing some voters to cast their ballots. People who registered to vote in other regions outside of N’Djamena, were not allowed to vote in polling centres in the capital. Election officials defended this, saying they were following the electoral code.
Provisional results of the first round are expected by 21 May.