Key facts
- Carlos Vila Nova has won a second term as President of Sao Tome and Principe.
- Preliminary results show Vila Nova secured 55.94% of the vote.
- His main opponent, Nito Abreu, received 41.42% of the vote.
- The election was marked by political tension but no major incidents.
- Vila Nova campaigned on a platform of unity and stability.
Carlos Vila Nova has secured a second five-year term as President of Sao Tome and Principe, according to preliminary results released by the National Electoral Commission. Vila Nova won in the first round with 55.94% of the vote, defeating his main challenger, Nito Abreu, who garnered 41.42%.
Other candidates, Eugénio Tiny and Miques João, received 1.97% and 1.58% of the vote, respectively. The election saw a high abstention rate, with an expected turnout around 70% among the more than 142,000 registered voters.
Vila Nova's platform focused on promising stability, balance, and unity among the citizens of Sao Tome and Principe. His campaign emphasized bringing generations together and fostering harmony within the country.
The election took place amidst political tension, notably following President Vila Nova's dismissal of Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada and his government in January 2025. Trovoada had called the dismissal illegal, and subsequent appointments of Prime Ministers Ilza Amado Vaz and Américo Ramos were met with challenges, including a Supreme Court ruling that the cabinet firing was unconstitutional, though without retroactive effect. The ADI party, to which Trovoada belongs, has experienced internal divisions.
International observers from various organizations, including the European Union, African Union, Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), G-7+, and others, were present to monitor the presidential election.