Gambiaj.com – (BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau) – The National Electoral Commission (CNE) has strongly criticized independent presidential candidate Fernando Dias da Costa for what it described as a “naive and unfounded” declaration claiming victory in the early voting conducted among members of the Defense and Security Forces.
Dias, who is backed by the PAI–Terra Ranka Inclusive Platform, told supporters on Friday during his final campaign rally in Bissau’s military neighbourhood that he had secured the majority of votes cast in the November 20 early presidential ballot, surpassing outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
He further asserted that he was confident the results from the early vote would remain unchanged when Guineans go to the polls on November 23.
In a statement issued late Saturday, November 22, the CNE condemned the remarks, calling them “a vain attempt to manipulate national and international public opinion.” The electoral body said the candidate’s comments were made on a private radio station without consideration for their potential impact, particularly on “less attentive voters.”
“The aforementioned candidate stated that he obtained the highest number of votes from the Defense and Security Forces during the early voting process,” the CNE said, noting that such claims were baseless and misleading.
To counter the misinformation, the Commission reiterated the legal procedures governing early voting under Articles 52 and 53 of Law No. 10/2013 of September 25.
According to the CNE, early voters receive a ballot and two envelopes—one white and one blue. The ballot is placed inside the white envelope, which is then enclosed, together with documentation proving early voting, in the blue envelope.
These sealed envelopes are subsequently forwarded to the voter’s designated polling station.
“Only at this table will the envelope containing the advance ballot be opened and counted for the purposes of the vote count,” the Commission stressed, underscoring that no tallying of early votes occurs prior to Election Day.
Reaffirming its “total commitment and determination” to ensuring a transparent process, the CNE assured the public that the electoral exercise will be concluded successfully on November 23.
