Togo’s government declared on Monday that the forthcoming legislative and regional elections will take place “no later than the end of the first quarter of 2024.”
This revised timeline extends beyond President Faure Gnassingbe’s pledge made in December of the previous year to conduct polls within 12 months.
During the 2018 legislative and regional elections, opposition parties boycotted the process, citing “irregularities” in the census.
Now, the opposition intends to challenge the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party and has urged a surge in voter registration.
However, Togo’s opposition expressed concerns regarding an electoral register validated by an international organization, apprehensive of potential fraud in the upcoming polls.
Eric Dupuy, spokesperson for the opposition National Alliance for Change (ANC), remarked to media, “This is another trick to reinforce electoral fraud with certification by the OIF.”
Faure Gnassingbe has been at the helm since 2005 following the passing of his father, General Eyadema Gnassingbe, who governed the country for 38 years.
Despite winning each election since assuming office, opposition parties have contested the validity of the results.
