Gabon's main opposition candidate, Jean Ping, votes in Libreville

Jean Ping, the main rival of Gabon's incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba, cast his vote on Saturday morning at Martine Oulabou public school in the second district of the capital Libreville.

"I am happy to have voted here. We are preparing to celebrate the victory and the change," he told the media after casting his vote.

"The stakes are too high and everyone should ensure that they cast their vote," he said, adding that "everyone should be ready to accept the true verdict from the ballot box."

He did not hide his optimism over his chance to defeat his rivals. "With a coalition of five key candidates, how can we lose the elections," he posed.

Ping was joined by four of the candidates who withdrew from the race to support him. They include ex-prime minister Casimir Oye Mba, ex-head of parliament Guy Nzouba Ndama, Leon Paul Ngoulakia who is a cousin to Bongo and independent candidate Roland Desire Aba'a Minko.

A total of ten candidates are contesting in Saturday's presidential elections, including incumbent president Bongo. Endit