Nairobi, 26 August 2023 (dpa/MIA) — President Ali Bongo Ondimba is seeking his third term in office as citizens of the tiny, oil-rich country of Gabon headed to the polls on Saturday.

It would be a surprise if the election for the president, parliament and local offices delivered a major change to the political landscape, but observers will be watching to see the scale of support for Bongo.

His family has ruled Gabon, on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, for over five decades.

Last-minute changes to the electoral system could further entrench Bongo's power.

The electoral authorities introduced a single ballot paper, which means a only one vote can be cast for both the parliament and the president. The party of the member of parliament selected then automatically gets the vote for the presidential candidate.

The opposition says the change puts them at a disadvantage.

But in an effort to improve the odds of ousting Bongo, the main opposition parties have coalesced around a single candidate: economics professor and former education minister Albert Ondo Ossa.

Despite its oil wealth, a large part of the population in the country of around 2.3 million lives in poverty.

Bongo won the last election in 2016 by just over 5,000 votes. Post-election riots broke out amid allegations of vote-rigging by Bongo.

Ali Bongo Ondimba became head of state in 2009 after the death of his father, who had ruled the country for more than 40 years.

A simple majority is enough to win the presidency. Around 850,000 people are eligible to vote. Polling stations close at 6 pm (1700 GMT).