Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lome (Fides Service) – Gnassingbe Eyadema has been re-elected President of Togo for another five year term. This was confirmed on 4 June by the National Independent Electoral Commission, which announced that the President won with 57.22% of the ballots. Emmanuel Bob Akitani, the main opposition candidate obtained 34.1% of the votes. The results must now be declared valid by the Constitutional Court.
According to Fides Service sources in Togo, the Opposition is preparing to reject the results. Although international monitors say the election was fair, opposition to the President denounces widespread electoral fraud. “What is contested” local sources tell Fides Service, “is above all the delay over the counting of the ballots. Many think that the delay was purposely created so as to commit acts of electoral fraud.”
In Lome the capital the situation is calm but tension remains for fear of violence between security forces and opposition to the president.
President Eyadema took power in Togo in 1967 with a military coup and for more than 30 years he imposed a regime of one party, the RTP, Rassemblement du peuple Togolais. In the early 1990s there was a turning point with history making multiparty elections in 1993. The Opposition made charges of electoral fraud against Eyadema who has always been re-elected since 1993 to today.
In 2001 Eyadema announced he would retire from politics in 2003, since the Constitution foresees no more than two Presidential mandates. But on 30 December 2002, Parliament, dominated by the RTP, changed the rules, to allow Eyadema to stand for presidency a third time. LM (Fides Service 5/6/2003 EM lines 26 Words: 300) .
