Counting has begun in Togolese elections held Saturday.

About 3.5 million people-half of Togo's population of 6.8 million- voted to choose between incumbent president Faure Gnassingbe and leading opposition candidate, Jean-Pierre Fabre.

President Gnassingbe is hoping to continue in office after he took over from his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for 38 years before dying in 2005.

The current president assumed power and won elections that were held in the same year. He again won the 2010 elections.

Joy News’ Volta regional correspondent, Ivy Setordjie, who is monitoring the elections, reported that people are leaving some of Togo’s big cities, including Lome, to surrounding communities fearing there could be post election disturbances.

The precautionary measure by the citizens is based on experiences with previous elections.

Meanwhile, some traders are going about their normal business activities, Ivy said.

President Gnassingbe, after voting in Lome Saturday morning told the press, “Now it is the duty of each Togolese to make a choice. I hope this choice will be made in peace.”