Emmanuel Bob-Akitani

Emmanuel Bob-Akitani (born July 18, 1930, in Aného, Lacs Prefecture;[1] dead May 16, 2011, in Lomé[2]) is a Togolese politician who was the main opposition candidate in the 2003 and 2005 Togolese presidential elections. He is the Honorary President of the Union of Forces for Change (UFC).

Bob-Akitani was a founding member of the UFC and was, at the time of the 2003 election, the UFC's First Vice-President.[1] Akitani stood as the UFC's candidate in 2003 because UFC President Gilchrist Olympio had been barred from running due to his failure to meet the residency requirement.[3] According to official results, he placed second behind long-time President Gnassingbé Eyadéma in the 2003 election, with 33.68% of the vote against 57.78% for Eyadéma.[4] The UFC alleged fraud and Bob-Akitani claimed to have won the election.[3] Following Eyadéma's death, he ran again in the April 2005 election as the candidate of an opposition coalition that included the UFC. He was again declared runner-up in the election, behind Eyadéma's son, Faure Gnassingbé, amidst widespread allegations of seized ballot boxes and other electoral fraud.

At a UFC party congress in July 2008, Bob-Akitani was named Honorary President of the UFC.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Emmanuel Bob Akitani (PFC) : "Detia yelo, detia yelo, detia kpoe le yi"", UFC website, May 27, 2003 (French).
  2. ↑ "Deuil à l'UFC : Emmanuel Bob Akitani est décédé", UFC website, May 16, 2011 (French).
  3. 1 2 "TOGO: Eyadema wins 57% majority in presidential election", IRIN, June 5, 2003.
  4. ↑ "RAPPORT DE LA MISSION EXPLORATOIRE DEPECHEE DANS LA PERSPECTIVE DE L’ELECTION PRESIDENTIELLE ANTICIPEE DU 24 AVRIL 2005 AU TOGO", democratie.francophonie.org (French).
  5. ↑ "L’UFC a désigné son candidat pour la présidentielle", Republicoftogo.com, July 20, 2008 (French).
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