Togo has decided to emulate its neighbour Nigeria and push back the date of its general election. The poll, originally slated for April 15, will now take place ten days later on April 25th.
The cabinet took this decision on Friday taking into account the recommendation of the president of ECOWAS, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama at the end of his visit on March 24, and its negotiation with the Togolese authorities and the country’s electoral body, candidates for the presidential election, according to a statement from the Togolese government. ECOWAS said the voter list needed to be revised.
Opposition parties say the list includes thousands of people who have registered twice and are likely to vote for President Faure Gnassingbe.
In a statement read on national television by Communications Minister Koumealo Anate on Friday, the government said the move showed its “open-mindedness and its spirit of conciliation and desire for a peaceful election”.
There was no immediate comment from opposition or union leaders.
Gnassingbe is expected to win the vote and secure a third term in power. He was installed as president by the army in 2005 when his father died after leading the nation for 38 years.
Gnassingbe stepped down under international pressure but went on to win a hotly-contested election months later and was re-elected for a second term in 2010.
Attempts to introduce term limits have been blocked in parliament, where Gnassingbe’s party has a majority.
Late last year, opposition supporters took to the streets with civil society groups to demand reforms.
The decision to postpone stresses the openness and the conciliatory spirit of the government and its desire to defuse further the political climate for a peaceful and serene presidential election.
