Togo’s electoral commission, CENI on Sunday declared preliminary victory for incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe in Saturday’s presidential election.
According to results, Faure Gnassingbe won the election with 72.3 %. His closest rival was former prime minister, Agbéyomé Kodjo who received 18.3% of the votes.
Another opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre received 4.3% of the votes, according to the electoral commission.
Before the preliminary results were announced, for Kodjo had alleged of fraud in the election, declaring himself winner.
#Togo’s electoral commission declares preliminary victory for @FEGnassingbe, 2nd place for #AgbeyomeKodjo ahead of Jean-Pierre Fabre. Question how people will accept this given the allegations of fraud made by opposition, including Kodjo who declares himself a winner.
— Fanny Facsar (@FannyFacsar) February 24, 2020
Kodjo said the authorities used ballot stuffing, fake polling stations and people casting multiple votes to skew the results in the incumbent’s favour.
He said figures gathered from various polling stations showed he was in the lead in the capital Lome and the coastal region.
Kodjo told journalists at a press conference that “I have the conviction that in the coming week, I will lead this country.
“Considering the revelations of fraud which marked this ballot, it is impossible for the outgoing candidate to be elected in the first round.”
Widely expected results
But 53 year old Faure Gnassingbé who took office in 2005 after the death of his father Eyadema Gnassingbé was widely expected to win the votes.
He pushed through constitutional changes allowing him to stand again this year, and potentially stay in office until 2030.
The constitutional change caps the presidential mandate to two five-year terms, but does not take into account the three terms Gnassingbé has already served.
Gnassingbé is set to extend his tenure with the election results so far, prolonging his family’s stay in power for over fifty years.
Source: Africafeeds.com
