Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe has decided to postpone the legislative and regional elections by a week, with the new scheduled date set for April 20. The initial date, April 13, was announced by the government in early February, bringing an end to months of uncertainty.
Electoral campaigns are now slated to run from midnight on April 4 until the conclusion of April 18. In the last legislative elections in 2018, opposition parties boycotted, citing “irregularities” in the electoral lists. This time around, the opposition is gearing up to challenge the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party and has organized a voter registration drive.
Gnassingbe assumed power in 2005 following the death of his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who governed the country with a firm hand for 38 years. Despite claims of irregularities by the opposition, Gnassingbe has been re-elected three times. The upcoming elections are anticipated to be a significant political event in Togo.