Togo presidential election to be held on April 15

Togo's presidential election will be held on April 15, the government said on Tuesday, the eve of a ruling party conference at which incumbent Faure Gnassingbe is expected to be selected as candidate.

The Council of Ministers, sitting in Pya, 440 kilometres (275 miles) north of the capital, Lome, announced in a statement that "the electorate is called for the presidential election on April 15, 2015".

Gnassingbe, in power for the last 10 years, is expected to be chosen to run for a third term of office when his ruling Union for the Republic (Unir) party meets on Wednesday.

Some 700 delegates are expected at the convention, where Gnassingbe, who took over after the death of his father in 2005, is expected to be widely considered among party supporters as the only choice.

"The delegates will make only one choice: Faure Gnassingbe, allowing him to continue the work begun in the country," said Minzina Edimao, a student at the University of Lome.

Gustave Alaza, a motorbike-taxi driver, said the 49-year-old president was "for the moment the best choice in this party because of his charisma and especially his experience leading the country".

This file picture taken on March 4, 2010 shows Togolese incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO

Gnassingbe's father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, ruled the tiny west African nation with an iron fist for 38 years but many in the country believe it is time for an end to the family's grip on power.

In recent months, the main opposition parties have tried to introduce a bill in parliament to limit the number of five-year terms that a president can serve to two.

But the reform was blocked, as Gnassingbe's party has a parliamentary majority.

In November and December last year, opposition supporters took to the streets with civil society groups to demand changes.

"The delegates will make only one choice: Faure Gnassingbe, allowing him to continue the work begun in the country," said Minzina Edimao, a student at the University of Lome.

Gustave Alaza, a motorbike-taxi driver, said the 49-year-old president was "for the moment the best choice in this party because of his charisma and especially his experience leading the country".

Gnassingbe's father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, ruled the tiny west African nation with an iron fist for 38 years but many in the country believe it is time for an end to the family's grip on power.

In recent months, the main opposition parties have tried to introduce a bill in parliament to limit the number of five-year terms that a president can serve to two.

But the reform was blocked, as Gnassingbe's party has a parliamentary majority.

In November and December last year, opposition supporters took to the streets with civil society groups to demand changes.

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