Democracy News

Togo Prepares for Presidential Election
February 17, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly                                                                     

According to an article by the Associated Press, the upcoming Togolese election, which was originally scheduled for February 28, will now take place on March 4.  The election was pushed back due to alleged “election planning irregularities.”  A statement released by the Togolese government cited that pushing back the election would allow for officials to finalize voter registration processes and security arrangements.  Campaigning for the election will begin on February 16. 

Voice of America reports that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will send at least 300 election monitoring officials to observe the Togolese election.  According to Abdel-Fatau Musah, political director of ECOWAS, the 300 individuals being sent will be comprised of 200 senior officers and 100 civilians. 

AFP reports The Union of Forces for Change (UFC), Togo’s main opposition party, has announced that it had quit from the commission that was organizing the country’s upcoming March presidential election.  In a statement released by the group, it said that it withdrew from participation because it did not want to be part of an “electoral masquerade.”  UFC leader, Gilchrist Olympio, was removed from the running when he failed to show up for a constitutionally stipulated medical exam.  Olympio, who currently resides in the United States, was replaced by UFC secretary general Jean Pierre Fabre as the party’s new candidate.  Olymio’s father, Sylvanus, was the first post-independence president of Togo.  The elder Olymio was assassinated in 1963 in a coup which eventually led to Faure Gnassingbe's father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, seizing power in 1967 until his death in 2005.  President Gnassingbe was appointed by the Togolese army following his father’s death.  If re-elected, Gnassingbe has pledged to devote his next term to economic affairs and promoting unity with the political realm.

Current president, Faure Gnassingbe, will run against six other candidates including Brigitte Kafui Adjamagbo-Johnson of the Democratic Convention of African People.  Adjamagbo-Johnson will be the first woman to run for presidential office.

Togo gained independence from France in 1960.

Sources:

AFP - Opposition party quits Togo election body

AP - Togo presidential election postponed 4 days

Voice of America - ECOWAS Wants Credible Togo Vote, Says Official

AFP - Togo's polls big test for legitimacy: president