procedure was not respected. Following his resignation as Prime Minister and as First Vice-president of the PDG, he said on 21 July that he had difficulty carrying out his work as Prime Minister due to a lack of cohesion in the government and lack of support from some "very powerful" ministers. While complaining that the government accomplished little, he said that he did not give up and had "still tried to do something". Whilst campaigning in August, Eyeghé Ndong stated that the people wanted "new governance", meaning an end to "the Bongo system" and the "embezzling of public funds and illicit enrichment". In late August 2009, Eyeghé Ndong called for the opposition candidates to join in support of a single candidate to face Bongo. Various opposition candidates gathered for negotiations at a meeting chaired by Eyeghé Ndong and held a secret ballot to choose a joint candidate. The vote concluded early on 28 August and André Mba Obame—a former minister who was running as an independent—was declared the victor. Eyeghé Ndong and four other candidates then publicly rallied behind Mba Obame, withdrawing their own candidacies. A representative of Eyeghé Ndong said that the withdrawing candidates were putting the call of the people ahead of their own egos. National Union On 30 December 2009, the planned creation of a new, united opposition party was announced, and Eyeghé Ndong was among the various opposition leaders participating in it. He said on the occasion that, by uniting, they were expressing a "common will to build a better future". Eyeghé Ndong then joined the African Development Movement (MAD), a minor opposition party led by Pierre-Claver Zeng Ebome, and the MAD then merged with two other parties to create a new party, the National Union (Union nationale, UN), which was announced on 10 February 2010. The UN grouped an assortment of major opposition politicians; Zacharie Myboto became its president, while Eyeghé Ndong was designated as one of its five vice-presidents. Eyeghé Ndong was elected to the Senate in December 2014. Along with fellow opposition leader Jean Ping, he participated in a protest against President Bongo on 20 December 2014, and he was affected by tear gas fired by police trying to break up the protest. Personal life He has been married to Gisèle Eyeghé Ndong (née Biyoghé) since 1971 and has six children. References 1946 births Living people Members of the Senate of Gabon Members