Togo held its first-ever Senate elections on Saturday, a momentous occasion in the country’s political history.
The event saw 1,706 municipal and regional councilors cast their votes to form the nation’s upper legislative chamber.
The elections are a significant part of Togo’s broader constitutional reforms aimed at creating a bicameral parliamentary system.
The electorate was made up of 1,527 municipal councilors and 179 regional councilors who selected 41 senators from a pool of 92 candidates.
Under the law, President Faure Gnassingbé will appoint the remaining 20 seats, completing the 61-member Senate.
Senators elected will serve six-year terms, with opportunities for re-election, marking a shift in Togo’s political landscape.
However, the elections were marred by a boycott from several opposition parties, who criticized the process as a tactic for President Gnassingbé to retain power.
Me Dodji Apevon, leader of the opposition party Forces Démocratiques pour la République (FDR), called the elections “predetermined,” alleging the results were fixed.
Civil society groups have echoed these concerns, accusing the ruling party of rigging the process.
The creation of the Senate fulfills a constitutional amendment from 2002, which envisioned a bicameral parliament with the National Assembly and the Senate.
Election results will be released after the votes are officially counted and verified, determining the future composition of Togo’s new legislative body.
