DAHOMEY: VOTERS IN NORTHERN PROVINCE OF BORGOU GO TO POLLS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Record ID: 328547

  • Title: DAHOMEY: VOTERS IN NORTHERN PROVINCE OF BORGOU GO TO POLLS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
  • Date: 31st March 1970
  • Summary: 1. GV & SV WOMEN NEEDING DOUGH IN PARAKOU VILLAGE (3 SHOTS) 0.11 2. GV OTHER VILLAGERS LOOK ON 0.16 3. GV VOTERS OUT OF LORRY 0.20 4. SV VOTERS ALONG ROAD TO VOTING STATION 0.27 5. SV ZOOM TO CU EDUCATION MINISTER LOOKS ON 0.34 6. CU VOTERS WITH ELECTION POSTERS ON HAT 0.38 7. SV & GTV VOTERS QUEUING TO VOTE (3 SHOTS) 0.56 8. SV INT VOTER OUT OF BOOTH AND PLACES SLIP IN BALLOT BOX 1.01 9. GV & CU PRESIDENT MAGA MOBBED BY CROWD (3 SHOTS) 1.23 10. SV MAGA WALKS TO CAR 1.26 11. SV CAR AWAY 1.31 Initials JB/VS/BOB/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th April 1970 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARAKOU, DAHOMEY
  • Country: Benin
  • Reuters ID: LVA69TJEONGR5UH6DAQ9ZCFSS79Y
  • Story Text: IN DAHOMEY'S NORTHERN PROVINCE OF BORGOU, VOTERS TURNED OUT IN STRENGTH IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. VOTING WAS HELD IN EACH OF THE SIX ELECTORAL DISTRICTS IN TURN.

    HOWEVER, BEFORE THE VOTING WAS COMPLETED THE COUNTRY'S RULING MILITARY DIRECTORATE SUSPENDED THE ELECTIONS, SAYING THAT THE NATION WAS SLIDING TOWARDS CIVIL WAR.

    THE FOUR CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY WERE EX-PRESIDENTS HUBERT MAGA, SOUROU-MIGAN APITHY; AND EMILE DERLIN ZINSOU, AND FORMER PREMIER JUSTIN AHOMADEGBE.

    VOTING IN THE FIRST ELECTORAL DISTRICTS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY VIOLENT CLASHES AND CHARGES OF ELECTORAL FRAUD. AFTER THE FIRST FOUR ROUNDS M. APITHY HAD A COMFORTABLE LEAD WITH M. AHOMADEGBE SECOND. THE RETURNS FROM BORGOU GAVE A MASSIVE LOCAL VICTORY TO M. MAGA. IN THE OVERALL SITUATION M. AHOMADEGBE THEN TOOK PLACE THE LEAD FROM M. APITHY, WITH M. MAGA THIRD.

    BUT REPORTS FROM BORGOU SAID THE VOTING TOOK PLACE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF CONSIDERABLE TENSION AND THERE WERE CLAIMS IN AN INCIDENTS IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE INJURED.

    M. APITHY ALLEGED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT PRESSURE HAD BEEN PUT ON ELECTORS TO VOTE FOR M. MAGA.

    ON SATURDAY (MARCH 28TH) THE MILITARY DIRECTORATE, WHICH HAD OUSTED PRESIDENT ZINSOU LAST DECEMBER, AND HAD CALLED THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, SUSPENDED THE ELECTIONS. lieutenant COLONEL PAUL EMILE DESCRIBED IT AS "PROVISIONAL".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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