Di pipo of Togo dey go vote for dia parliamentary and regional elections afta one new constitution wey dem pass bin extend di term of dia president.
Oppositon parties dey seriously argue say di new change to di constitution by lawmakers na di attempt to keep di incumbent President Faure Gnassingbé for power for long term. President Gnassingbé don dey im fourth term for office aft aim enta power since 2005.
Di election for Togo suppose happun for 20 April but Gnassingbé bin postpone am say im wan ‘consult’ and e don make plenti critics begin dey count how di election go dey credible.
AFP news agency even report say di authorities for Togo bin stop foreign media from getting election accreditation. Dem even block some election observers from monitoring di election.
Di gbege wit opposition parties
Opposition parties for Togo no gree wit di constitution reform wey di parliament bin pass as dem see am as a way for di president to keep im family for power.
Na about four million voters go choose di new 113 lawmakers and 179 regional deputies for di kontri but di opposition dey vex about how di election dey turn out.
For Togo last election, di opposition parties no too come out to vote and na why di current administration bin get plenty lawmakers for di parliament and na wetin make am easy for di new constitution to change be dat.
Dis time around, di opposition say dem no go leave dis election as dem say make dia supporters come out to vote so dem fit get high numbers.
New constitution wey go see Togo move from presidential to parliamentary
Togo parliament bin give final approval for a new constitution wey go extend di president term, after critics call di move coup.
Di West African kontri go move from a presidential to a parliamentary system.
President Faure Gnassingbé supporters argue say di changes reduce im powers by transforming di presidency into a ceremonial role.
But di opposition say di reforms remove limits on im stay in office.
Under di new system, di president go dey selected by parliament without debate for a single six-year term, rather dan being directly elected.
Dia removal go allow am to remain president until 2031, dem tok, afta which e go dey appointed to di new position of “president of di council of ministers” – in effect prime minister – to kontinu im family 57-year rule.
President Gnassingbé enta power in 2005 afta di death of im father, wey don be president since 1967.
Di constitutional changes bin dey approved by lawmakers last month. But in di face of mounting public anger, Mr Gnassingbé pause di reforms and say dem go dey subject to further consultations.
How di Gnassingbe family rule Togo
– Gnassingbe Eyadema- Di father
For Togo, Gnassingbe Eyadema begin rule since 1967, wen im come into power through a military coup.
Afta Eyadema bin seize power for 38 years, im dissolve all political parties and rule Togo for two decades without opposition or any challenge from anyone.
For 1991, afta plenti pressure, Eyadema bin legalise political parties for 1991.
By dat time, im don win three elections wey be say di European Union bin stop all aid to di kontri for 1993 afta dem allege say di voting dey filled wit irregularities.
By 2005, Eyadema bin die as Africa longest serving ruler. At 69-years-old, Eyadema dey scik for different years afta dem carry am comot for di medical treatment wey im go do for abroad.
Faure Gnassingbe- Di son
Few hours afta Eyadema bin die, dem announce di son Faure Gnassingbe to replace di father.
Di den Army chief of staff Gen Zakari Nandja say na becos say di parliament speaker no dey around na hwy dem use Faure replace am.
For 2020, Faure bin win re-election into office afta plenti critics bin allege say di election dey filled wit fraud.
Di opposition leader Agbéyomé Kodjo bin about 18% of votes while Gnassingbé bin receive 72% of di vote.
Kodjo wey be former prime minister and head of di national assembly, say im opponent set up fake polling stations and pipo dey cast multiple votes for Faure in 2020.
Meanwhile for 2017, thousands of pipo bin enta streets of Togo to protest against Faure.
Since den, im don dey power.
Wetin to know about Faure Gnassingbe rise to power
Faure Gnassingbe succeed in papa, wey die for 2005 afta ruling di kontri wit iron hand for 38 years.
Di military put Faure Gnassingbe as president, but afta serious domestic and international pressure e call for elections. Hundreds of pipo die to challenge im victory for dat election.
Gnassingbe don win three more elections, for 2010, 2015 and 2020. All of di elections don dey criticised by di opposition, wey claim say wuru full am.
Constitutional changes for 2019 allow President Gnassingbe to seek re-election and to get chance to fit stay for office until 2030 – issue wey cause protests for 2017-18.
- Why one new constitution wey go see Togo move from presidential to parliamentary system dey cause controversy
- Why Supreme Court stop $3500 monthly salary to Ghana First Lady, wife of Vice President
