1981 Central African presidential election

Presidential elections were held in the Central African Republic on 15 March 1981.[1] They were the first national elections of any sort since 1964, the first elections since the overthrow of longtime ruler Jean-Bédel Bokassa in 1979, and the first multiparty presidential elections since independence. Five candidates—incumbent president David Dacko, Ange-Félix Patassé, François Pehoua, Henri Maïdou and Abel Goumba—stood in the election.

1981 Central African presidential election

5 January 1981
Turnout76.66%
 
Nominee David Dacko Ange-Félix Patassé François Pehoua
Party UDC MLPC GIR
Popular vote 374,027 283,739 39,661
Percentage 51.10% 38.77% 5.42%

President before election

David Dacko
UDC

Elected President

David Dacko
UDC

The elections were won by Dacko, who had been restored to power two years earlier as part of Operation Barracuda, which overthrew Emperor Bokassa I (Jean-Bédel Bokassa). Dacko tried to pose as the inheritor of Barthélemy Boganda, the national hero who founded the country.

Results

CandidatePartyVotes%
David DackoCentral African Democratic Union374,02751.10
Ange-Félix PatasséMovement for the Liberation of the Central African People283,73938.77
François PehouaIndependent Grouping for Reflection39,6615.42
Henri MaïdouRepublican Progressive Party24,0073.28
Abel GoumbaOubanguian Patriotic Front10,5121.44
Total731,946100.00
Valid votes731,94698.29
Invalid/blank votes12,7421.71
Total votes744,688100.00
Registered voters/turnout971,39576.66
Source: EISA

References

  1. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p210 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
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