© Afreepress (Lomé, the 22^nd April 2015)-Members of Togo's Security and Defence Forces believed to be more than 22 000 men and women began voting throughout the country today, 72 hours ahead of the country's presidential polls due on Saturday this week.

 

Togo's National Independent Commission says that today's voting will permit the security and defence forces to perform their normal duties of ensuring security and the protection of human life and property during polls day.

 

When I went round some polling stations set up by the electoral commission in Lomé this morning, I saw determined soldiers lined up in long queues waiting to cast their votes. In all, over 22 000 strong men of Togo's security and defence forces began voting throughout the country today, 72 hours ahead of Saturday's polls.

 

This policeman I met at polling station located at the Gnassingbé Eyadema military camp shared his impressions about the earlier voting by Togolese security forces with me.

 

"I have come to perform my civic duties as Togolese citizen like all other civilian. This earlier voting by soldiers will enable us to perform our duties of ensuring security and order during polls day. It is normal exercise and it is done in many countries in the world. I think that we must also have our say in the ruling of our country", the policeman said.

 

Voting is expected to end at 5, o'clock. But the electoral commission says that ballot boxes will be sealed and deposited at various local electoral commissions throughout the country until the general voting by civilians on Saturday this week. Counting is expected to start immediately after general voting by civilian. Togo's Electoral commission explained that this exercise will enable security forces to perform their normal duties of ensuring security and the protection of human life and property during polls day.

 

Today's voting by the security and defence forces coincides with the deployment of  Ecowas and AU electoral observer missions that will observe and monitor the presidential polls before , during and after the proclamation of results. A special Election force composed of 8 000 men has been deployed by Togolese authorities to ensure security and order during before, during and after the proclamation of electoral results.

 

Meanwhile the electoral campaigns which began two weeks ago will end on Thursday as the four opposition candidates flex their muscles to do battle with President Faure Gnassingbé, come next Saturday.

 

 

Blame Ekoue