afrol News - Togo ruling party sweeps poll

»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»

Togo
Politics | Human rights | Society

Togo ruling party sweeps poll

afrol News, 18 October - The ruling governing Togo People’s Rally (RTP) of President Fauré Gnassingbé has swept the majority of seats in last weekend’s legislative poll.

The national electoral commission confirmed that RTP has so far polled 49 of the 81 seats while the main opposition Union Forces for Change secured 21. CAR party got four, but vote counting continues in seven constituencies.

RTP officials reacted to the development describing it as a victory for the Togolese people who saw the urgency to unite for nation building.

With 95% voter turnout, the Togolese poll is undoubtedly records the highest participation.

This is the first time in 20 years that all opposition parties, including the UFC took part in election.

International election observers endorsed the polls as free and fair. The opposition raised alarms against a number of irregularities. But most Togolese are relieved that the poll passed off peacefully.

Unsatisfied with the increasing spate of human rights abuse, rule of law and democracy, Togo has been suspended from accessing foreign aid for 15 years. But the country’s leadership are now expecting the resumption of aid.

The constitutional court is mandated to confirm the results or preside over the legal challenges.

Faure Gnassingbe succeeded his late father, General Gnassingbé Eyadéma to the throne in 2005. General Eyadéma , who ruled the West African country with iron fist for 38 years, died of heart attack on 5 February 2005 while he was being evacuated for emergency treatment abroad.

The Chief of Togolese army, Zakary Nandja installed Fauré Gnassingbé as the President few hours after his father’s death.

Fauré bowed down to international pressures and stepped down as President on 25 February until elections were held on 24 April 2005. He had won the polls, amid killings of hundreds of people in post electoral violence.

The Sunday poll was a total difference from those of the 1990s when the regime used the military to arbitrarily arrest, detain and extra-judicially executed its opponents.