São Tomé and Príncipe's President Vila Nova projected to win second term

Vila Nova broke with the Independent Democratic Action party that first brought him to power after sacking the then-prime minister.

According to the country's electoral commission, Vila Nova received more than 55 percent of the vote, avoiding a second-round run-off.

Sixty-six-year-old Vila Nova who first took office in 2021, campaigned on a platform of "political stability," while his 43-year-old rival hoped to appeal to younger voters.