By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

Togo’s ruling party, the National Union for the Republic (UNIR), has solidified its formidable political control, securing a dominant victory in the country’s municipal elections with provisional results released on Monday showing the party winning a sweeping 1,150 out of 1,527 available council seats. This outcome further entrenches UNIR’s power following a period marked by deadly unrest and controversial constitutional reforms.

The provisional figures, announced by the national election commission (CENI), highlight UNIR’s pervasive influence at the local governance level across the West African nation. These municipal councilors, once confirmed, will play a crucial role alongside regional deputies – elected in parallel polls in April 2024 – in electing members to a newly constituted Senate, a key component of Togo’s reformed political system.

The electoral process, encompassing the casting of ballots for these local council seats, was conducted against a backdrop of significant public anger and protests. In the months leading up to and during the broader election cycle, Togo experienced deadly demonstrations in its capital, Lomé, fueled by controversial constitutional amendments. Critics argue these changes are designed to allow President Faure Gnassingbé to extend his family’s nearly 60-year rule indefinitely, transforming the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system where the head of state is elected indirectly by parliament, and the executive power shifts to a Prime Minister-like role without term limits.

Rights groups reported several deaths during crackdowns on protests in June 2025, with many citizens expressing voter apathy and fear amidst heavy security presence and restrictions on demonstrations. Despite these tensions and boycott calls from some opposition and civil society groups, UNIR has consistently demonstrated its electoral strength across various tiers of government. This latest result in the municipal councils reinforces the ruling party’s legislative dominance and control over the country’s political institutions, drawing concerns from those who see it as a systematic erosion of democratic checks and balances.