In Togo, the presidential election is due to be held on 28 February 2010. Currently, the electoral system for the election is pitting the government against the opposition and some opposition parties are threatening to boycott the election.

The problem is that, as in Gabon and Cameroon, the president is due to be elected in a single ballot, so a simple majority will suffice for victory. This greatly strengthens the position of the incumbent, Faure Gnassingbé because the opposition is spread across a number of candidates, even though it would seem to have the support of more than 50% of the population in total.

In the original version of the 1992 constitution a two-ballot system was specified. However, the constitution was amended in December 2002 under the presidency of General Gnassingbé Eyadéma, the father of the current president.

On Sunday, Togosite reports, the ‘historic’ opposition candidate, Gilchrist Olympio, rallied several thousand supporters in the capital, Lomé, to protest against the current electoral system. There have also been counter-protests by supporters of the ruling party.