The Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) in Benin published, on Wednesday January 11, the provisional results of the legislative elections of Sunday January 8, which announce the return of the opposition to Parliament after four years of absence.
Indeed, the main opposition party, “The Democrats”, obtained 28 seats out of a total of 109. Unsurprisingly, these results give a large victory to the ruling coalition; the Progressive Union for Renewal (UP-R) won 53 seats and 28 for the Republican Bloc (BR).
As a reminder, the opposition was unable to take part in the 2019 legislative elections for not having fully met the requirements of the electoral law. Only two formations of the presidential mobility had been able to participate, finally giving rise to a Parliament completely acquired by President Patrice Talon.
For last Sunday’s elections, the « Democrats » party of former Beninese President Boni Yayi, however, does not agree with the provisional results. « This verdict does not reflect the will of the people to make our party the leading political force in our country, » said Eric Houndété, the president of the political party.
The party points to “stratagems put in place by the ruling coalition to distort the democratic game”, including ballot stuffing or even exceeding the number of voters compared to registered voters.
« In view of all these breaches of the law, the party Les Démocrates contests the results proclaimed by the CENA and demands that the truth of the ballot box be restored », insisted Eric Houndété who also announced appeals to the Constitutional Court.
“The Democrats party is already working to lodge appeals with the Constitutional Court so that it can be restored to its rights,” he continued, while urging party activists to calm down.
To the attention of the international community, the training expressed « its desire to work for peace and invites it to support it in its efforts to restore Beninese democracy ».
By OMA Newsletter N° 1006 of 01/12/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
