1978 Upper Voltan presidential election

1978 Upper Voltan presidential election

14 May 1978 (first round)
28 May 1978 (second round)
 
Nominee Sangoulé Lamizana Macaire Ouédraogo
Party Independent
(UDV–RDA)
UNDD
Popular vote 711,722 552,954
Percentage 56.28% 43.72%


President before election

Sangoulé Lamizana
Independent

Elected President

Sangoulé Lamizana
Independent

Presidential elections were held in the Republic of Upper Volta on 14 May 1978, with a second round on 28 May after no candidate won more than 50% in the first round. They were the country's first multi-party presidential elections, the previous elections in 1965 having Maurice Yaméogo as the sole candidate. They were also the first presidential elections held under a revised Constitution adopted a year earlier.

Incumbent president Sangoulé Lamizana ran as an independent with the support of the Voltaic Democratic Union–African Democratic Rally. Lamizana was the leading candidate in the first round, before winning with 56% of the vote in the second round. Voter turnout was 35% in the first round and 44% in the second.