By: Eugene Upah
In a resounding endorsement of the current administration’s trajectory, Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni has emerged as the winner of Benin’s presidential election, securing a massive 94% of the vote, according to provisional results.
Sacca Lafia, head of Benin’s independent electoral commission (CENA), announced the tally on national television late Monday. The figures, based on more than 90% of ballots counted, place Wadagni in an unassailable lead. Voter turnout was recorded at 58.78%.
Wadagni, the handpicked successor to outgoing President Patrice Talon, benefited from the strong backing of the ruling coalition. President Talon is set to step down after completing the constitutionally mandated limit of two five-year terms.
The election follows a period of heightened security; just four months ago, authorities reported that security forces, with support from Nigerian troops, successfully foiled a coup attempt.
Opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe, representing the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) party, formally conceded defeat earlier on Monday. In a televised address, Hounkpe struck a conciliatory tone.
“To Romuald Wadagni, I offer my republican congratulations. Democracy requires mutual respect and the ability to rise above partisan divides,” Hounkpe stated.
Despite the landslide, Hounkpe’s campaign highlighted a growing divide in the country. While Benin recorded a robust 7.5% GDP growth in 2024, Hounkpe argued that high-profile tourism projects and macroeconomic success have yet to improve the daily living conditions for many of the nation’s nearly 8 million eligible voters.
Wadagni’s path to the presidency was smoothed by a fractured opposition. The Democrats, Benin’s main opposition party, failed to field a candidate.
The party also declined to endorse Hounkpe.
In the January 2026 legislative elections, the Democrats failed to meet the 20% threshold required for parliamentary seats, leaving the ruling coalition in control of every seat in the National Assembly.
While the final turnout reached nearly 59%, observers in the port city of Cotonou noted a sluggish start to the day. Reports indicated that voting activity was slow during the early morning hours before picking up later in the day.
Wadagni now prepares to take the helm of one of West Africa’s fastest-growing economies, tasked with bridging the gap between national economic statistics and the pocketbooks of the Beninese people.
