Togo: parliamentary campaign comes to a close for Thursday polls

Campaign by political parties which started on July 6 for the parliamentary elections in Togo will come to a close at midnight on Tuesday, 24 hours ahead of Thursday’s poll when about three million eligible voters will cast their votes to select 91 parliamentarians. Parliamentary polls were initially due in October 2012, but they have been repeatedly delayed amid protests from the opposition parties demanding reforms in the functioning and the structure of the of the electoral commission which the opposition parties claim is dominated by persons from the ruling party and redistricting constituencies which has long been considered tailored to keep the ruling party in power. According to Agbeyomé Kodjo, one of the leaders of the opposition coalition, the CST group “Save the Togo.” even if transparency is not guaranteed, the opposition must participate in the elections because of the critical issues facing the future assembly two years to the presidential election in 2015. Incumbent President, Faure Gnassingbe's party won 50 of the 81 seats in 2007 elections. 26 political parties participating in this election with observers doubting the opposition's reluctant challenge can loosen the ruling family's 46-year grip on the western African country. AEP Get the latest news and updates on elections in Africa by following us on twitter @africanelections and like our facebook page