Benin: 48 candidates 'battle' for presidential seat

48 candidates are vying for the presidential seat in next months’ election in Benin

“We received 52 nomination papers but only 48 of them were completely filled,” Emmanuel Tiando, head of Benin’s National Electoral Commission told the press.

Current prime minister, Lionel Zinsou will stand on the ticket of the ruling Cowrie Forces for an Emerging Benin.

Mr Zinzou had said he is benefiting from the support of of other major political parties like the PRD of legal expert Adrien Houngbedi, current speaker of Benin’s parliament who was second during the 2011 election.

An opposition coalition “Unity Makes the Nation” was not unanimous in their choice of a candidate.
One of the party’s member Eric Houndele who occupies the position of vice president in parliament dropped his nomination as an independent candidate.

Two business magnates Patrice Talon and Sebastien Ajavon are also in the race.

Observers believe this is a sign of evolution in Benin’s politics, “ we have never recorded 48 nominations for the presidential election since 1990 when multi-party politics was introduced after decades of military rule. This is proof that our political party has turned full circle,” Agapit Napoleon, political analyst said.

The ball is now in the court of of the electoral commission which has eight days to study the nomination papers.

After the studies, the final approval will be done by the constitutional court within a period of ten days.