Benin election: Finance minister Romuald Wadagni secures landslide victory

Benin's finance minister scored a crushing victory in presidential elections held on April 12, securing more than 94% of the vote, according to provisional results published Monday by the electoral commission.

The head of the commission, Sacca Lafia, said on national television that based on more than 90% ​of the ​votes ⁠counted, Romuald ‌Wadagni had taken a commanding lead .

According to Lafia, the Wadagni-Talata ticket secured 4,252,347 votes, while the opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe obtained 269,433 votes, representing 5.95%.

The commission said the results were compiled from 15,814 polling stations out of a total of 17,463, corresponding to a processing rate of 90.55%.

Mathematically irreversible

It added that “the gap between the candidates is such that the integration of the remaining votes cannot alter the ranking, making the outcome mathematically irreversible at this stage.”

Voter turnout stood at 58.75%, with 4,640,354 voters casting ballots out of 7,897,287 registered.

Of these, 4,522,756 votes were deemed valid, while 117,598 were classified as invalid.

The commission noted that voting took place across the country and in 14 diaspora voting centers. Despite reported attempts to disrupt the process in some northern localities, it said security forces ensured that citizens were able to vote freely.

The commission also highlighted the use of a digital transmission platform, which it said ensured “inviolable traceability and rapid transmission of electoral data.”

Constitutional Court

The provisional results will be transmitted without delay to the Constitutional Court, which has the final authority to validate and proclaim the definitive results.

Under Benin’s electoral framework, the commission is responsible for organizing elections and proclaiming provisional results, while the Constitutional Court adjudicates electoral disputes and confirms final outcomes.

The April 12 vote was held nationwide and abroad.