Opposition groups in Togo have raised concerns over alleged ballot-stuffing in the recent legislative and regional elections, as vote counting continues. Despite this, regional observers have deemed the polls to be free and fair.
The elections follow the passing of a controversial constitutional reform that critics argue will further extend President Faure Gnassingbé’s hold on power in the small West African nation. This marks the first vote since the implementation of the new constitution, which introduced a prime minister-style position that opposition parties fear will enable Gnassingbé to circumvent term limits.
Gnassingbé, who has been in power since 2005 and has won four disputed elections, faces accusations of electoral fraud from the opposition. The main opposition party boycotted the previous parliamentary elections in 2018 due to irregularities.
The Dynamics for the Majority of the People (DMP) opposition alliance reported irregularities such as over-voting and delays in voting commencement. Opposition leaders, including Nathaniel Olympio and Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson, have vowed to challenge the validity of the election results.
On the other hand, Pascal Bodjona, the president’s new political advisor, attributed the ruling party’s lead to the UNIR party’s strong presence during the elections. Despite some concerns raised by observers, the regional group CEN-SAD stated that the election was conducted in a mostly positive atmosphere without major incidents.
As Togo awaits the release of the official election results, the country’s electoral commission has six days to make them public. The outcome of these elections will have significant implications for the political landscape in Togo and the future of President Gnassingbé’s leadership.