Benin's campaign trail gets busier ahead of polls

Benin is scheduled to hold presidential elections on February 28, in which 5 million voters are expected participate.

A number of the country’s top businessmen vying for the presidency and as the campaign trail gets busier, analysts say it is a keenly fought wide open contest.

They a seeking to take over from President Thomas Boni Yayi who has ruled the west African nation for the last 10 years.

Yayi is barred under the country’s constitution from standing for a third term and has decided not to change the constitution.

Despite Yayi’s efforts to stamp out corruption and boost economic growth in the country, some Beninois are of the opinion that business people will rule the country better than the political class, which has failed in developing the economy.

The IMF says that economic growth in the cotton producing country will ease to 5.5 percent in 2016 due to a sharp slowdown in its giant West African neighbour Nigeria.