Incumbent leads disputed poll
Publish date: 24 February 2020
Issue Number: 861
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Togo
Togo's opposition leader Agbeyome Kodjo has accused authorities of setting up fake polling stations in Saturday's presidential election to skew the result in favour of President Faure Gnassingbé who has been in power since 2005 when he took over from his father. His office has denied the accusation. The electoral commission said Gnassingbé had received 72% of the vote, compared with about 18% for Kodjo. BBC News reports that soldiers surrounded Kodjo's home while the votes were being counted. Constitutional changes were approved last year allowing Gnassingbé to seek re-election and potentially stay in office until 2030. The issue sparked huge protests in 2017 and 2018.
