ECOWAS points Togolese to lawful settlement of election disputes
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has asked Togolese to resort to constitutional means to address any grievances arising out of the country's presidential elections.
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Making the call on the heels of threats by the opposition parties to use all means possible to remove the incumbent Faure Gnassingbé from office, ECOWAS said the country's constitutional court was the constitutionally mandated body clothed with the law to handle elections disputes.
This was contained in a communique issued in Lome, Togo, on April 28, 2015 after a post-election visit to that country by the Chair of ECOWAS President John Dramani Mahama, accompanied by the President of Cote D'Ivoire Alhassane Ouattara.
The communique said Togo could only build on its democratic credentials when the laws of the land were allowed to work.
Opposition vow
The opposition parties in Togo have vowed to pursue all means possible to get Mr Gnassingbé out of office after he was declared winner of the presidential poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
Mr Gnassingbé won with 58.75 percent of the votes cast, while the main opposition leader, Jean Pierre Fabre came a distant second with 34.95 percent.
The opposition parties cried foul, claiming the elections were rigged.
But, observer missions including those of the United Nations, Africa Union and ECOWAS had all declared the polls free, fair peaceful and transparent
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Purpose of the visit
The visit by the ECOWAS chairman, and President Ouattara was a solidarity one to congratulate the people of Togo on the peaceful conduct of the presidential elections held on April 25, 2015.
The visit was also in line with ECOWAS protocols in extending support and solidarity to member states holding elections. Mr Mahama had earlier visited Togo prior to the holding of the elections.
While in Lome, Presidents Mahama and Ouattara met with all key stakeholders including the two leading presidential candidates, and the Chairman of CENI as well as heads of International Observer Missions who witnessed the elections.
According to the communique, the two presidents, during the visit, urged all stakeholders to continue in the spirit of the peaceful conduct of the elections to see the process to its successful conclusion with the declaration of the results within the constitutionally stipulated time.
Mr Mahama urged CENI to put in best efforts to conclude the tallying and announcement of the results.
The Chair and President Ouattara commended the people of Togo for their demonstrated commitment to democracy through peaceful elections.
He thanked President Faure Gnassingbé and the leaders of the various political parties for their patriotism, and also thanked the CENI for its professional conduct of the polls. He acknowledged and thanked the various International Observer Groups and International Organisations for their support.
He particularly noted the technical and mediation efforts extended by the ECOWAS, AU, UN, CENSAD, OIF, UEMOA and the Goree Institute.