Nearly 4.2 million Togolese voters were called to the polls this Monday, April 29, for legislative and regional elections. Postponed several times, this election is being held while a new Constitution adopted by outgoing MPs on April 19 moves Togo from a presidential regime to a parliamentary regime.
They voted MPs and regional councilors. At midday, according to reports there were no large crowds in front of the polling stations in the capital. Some opened late, but things quickly returned to order and voting operations have since taken place normally. These delays, as reports suggest, were due to the installation of the kits.
However, several voters arrived very early. Someone confided that they arrived at the voting center at 5:45 a.m.: they wanted to quickly fulfill their duty as a citizen then return to take care of their activities before returning in the afternoon to follow the counting operations.
To facilitate fluidity and avoid long queues, the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) limited the number of voters to 350 per polling station. A toll-free number, 1010, was created so that everyone, if in doubt, can identify their voting center.
The day was a public holiday, non-working and paid to vote in peace
About four million voters went down the polls to elect 113 lawmakers and 179 regional deputies who along with municipal councillors will install a newly created senate.
Opposition parties boycotted Togo’s last election and are poorly represented in parliament, which led to the disputed reform passing almost unanimously.
This time, they have urged their supporters to turn out for the vote in high numbers.
Supporters of President Gnassingbé however argue that his continued rule will boost development.
