WADAGNI SWEEPS BENIN PRESIDENCY: FINANCE MINISTER CLINCHES 94% LANDSLIDE
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–ROMUALD Wadagni, Benin Republic’s finance minister, has secured a landslide victory in the country’s presidential election with over 94% of votes, according to provisional results.
Key Issues:
– _“More than 94 per cent of the votes”_ — Sacca Lafia, head of the independent electoral commission, announcing provisional results late Monday night on national television.
– High Turnout, Clear Mandate: _“Voter turnout for the election stood at 58.78 percent.”_ — Sacca Lafia
– Opposition Concedes: _“Paul Hounkpè, the sole opposition candidate, conceded defeat.”_ Hounkpè said _“he would accept the result depending on the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.”_
– Path Cleared by Parliamentary Sweep: Wadagni’s victory followed January parliamentary elections where _“the opposition failed to cross the 20 percent threshold required to win seats… leaving Talon’s two allied parties in control of all 109 seats in the national assembly.”_
– Economic Record as Campaign Strength: The 49-year-old _“touted the country’s economic growth during his decade as finance minister as his key strength.”_ _“Last year, Benin’s economy grew by seven percent, making it one of West Africa’s steadiest performers.”_
– Talon’s Exit Note: _“I was leaving office with the feeling of having given my best, of having led the country to take some steps forward in all areas.”_ — President Patrice Talon. He added, _“Whatever the outcome of the vote, Benin has reached a milestone in its history.”_
Though largely democratic, Benin’s stability has been tested in recent times.
In September 2024, prosecutors said they foiled a suspected coup attempt. Olivier Boko, businessman and Talon’s longtime friend who was eyeing the president’s office, was reportedly in on the plot.
Last December, a group of military officers attempted to topple Talon’s government but failed after Nigeria’s intervention.
A month before the attempted coup, lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment extending the presidential term to seven years.
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