2026 Tobago House of Assembly election

2026 Tobago House of Assembly election

←  Dec 2021 12 January 2026
15 seats in the Tobago House of Assembly 8 seats needed for a majority
Leader Farley Chavez Augustine Ancil Dennis Watson Duke Party TPP PNM PDP Leader since 2023 2022 Last election New 40.93% 58.04 Current seats 13 1 1
Incumbent Chief Secretary Farley Chavez Augustine Tobago People's Party

The 2026 Tobago House of Assembly election is an upcoming election for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) scheduled to be held on 12 January 2026. The election was called following the dissolution of the THA on 12 November 2025. ^{[1] [2]}

Background

In the previous December 2021 election, the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) won a landslide victory, winning 14 out of 15 seats, ^[3] with the PDP's Farley Chavez Augustine becoming Chief Secretary of Tobago. ^[4] In December 2022, 13 PDP MPs and several councillors (appointed members of the THA) left the party and continued to form government as a collective of independents under Augustine’s leadership. ^[5] In August 2023, the governing independent MPs formed the Tobago People's Party (TPP). ^[6]

Election preparation

In June 2025, the Tobago Council of the People's National Movement (PNM) announced that they had initiated a process for selecting candidates for the next THA election. ^[7] By August 2025, the PNM had selected all 15 candidates for the election. ^[8]

In October 2025, the PDP revealed they had already initiated the process of screening candidates. ^[9] In the same month, the ruling party of Tobago, the TPP, announced a timeline for candidate applications, with applications opening on 7 October and closing on 17 October. ^[7] In late October following the close of nominations, TPP revealed 55 people had applied to be candidates. ^[10]

On 10 November 2025, the Elections and Boundaries Commission announced it was in a state of readiness for an election being called. ^[11]

On 12 November, following a request by the Chief Secretary, the THA was dissolved and a new election required. However, an election date was not announced, although the election was required to be held between 12 January and 12 February 2026 according to the requirements set out in section 22 of the THA Act 40 from 1996. ^{[1] [12]} In December 2025, the election date was announced as 12 January 2026. ^[13]

References

1. "THA dissolved as Augustine paves way for election". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . 12 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
2. "Augustine dissolves THA". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
3. "PDP wins THA elections 14-1; recounts in 2 districts today". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
4. "FARLEY MANIA". Trinidad Express Newspapers. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
5. "Mass resignation from PDP of Farley and team: Tobago now run by Independents". Trinidad Express . 5 December 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
6. "Augustine launches new Tobago party, calls for general election". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . 14 August 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
7. "TPP opens nomination for THA election candidates". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
8. "PNM completes screening, picks all 15 candidates for THA poll". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . 1 August 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
9. "PDP ready for election, says Duke". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . 7 October 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
10. "55 vie for TPP candidacy for THA elections". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
11. "We're ready for THA election, says EBC". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian . 5 November 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
12. "Breaking news the Tobago House of Assembly has officially been dissolved". Tobago Channel 5. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025– via Facebook.
13. "Farley announces January 12 THA elections". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.