Benin’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Romuald Wadagni, won the presidential election held on Sunday, according to preliminary results of the count published Monday evening by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission of Benin.
More than 7,89 million voters were registered for the election, with a turnout rate of 58,75%.
Read more Separatists declare a ceasefire on the occasion of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Cameroon
According to preliminary results, Mr. Wadagni, candidate of the presidential movement, led Paul Hounkpè, candidate of the opposition party Cowrie Forces for an Emerging Benin, with 94,05% of the votes.
Mr. Wadagni’s running mate, Mariam Chabi Talata, will serve as Vice President of Benin.
During the campaign, Mr. Wadagni presented his political program, stating his desire to proceed with a systemic modernization of the country’s development trajectory based on reforms undertaken over the last decade.
Placed under the vision “Further, together”, these reforms propose to evolve Benin from a development model based on the primary production sector towards a modern economy focused on industrialization, digitalization, and regional integration. The emphasis would be placed, according to him, no longer on the expansion of the size of the economy alone, but on a transformation towards quality growth.
Read more Cameroon: the court entrusts the organization of Anicet Ekane’s funeral to his son Muna Ekane
Political officials, electoral institutions, as well as national and international observers believe that the vote took place in a generally calm and orderly climate. The Constitutional Court of Benin is expected to officially announce the final results in five days.
According to the electoral code, the president and vice-president of the country are elected by direct universal suffrage for a seven-year term.
Aged 49, Mr. Wadagni assumed the post of Minister of Economy and Finance after the election of Patrice Talon to the presidency in 2016, becoming one of the main architects of the economic policy of the outgoing president, whose mandate will expire on May 23.
Read more Trade deficit: 156,7 billion FCFA between Cameroon and the Gulf countries in 2024
