The finance minister of Benin Republic, Mr. Romuald Wadagni, has won his country’s presidential election with 94% of the vote, a landslide victory.
With more than 90% of the votes counted, Wadagni, 49, holds a commanding lead, the electoral commission, CENA, said in an official statement.
Finance Miinister Wadagni comes to power as the candidate of a political alliance between the Progressive Union Renewal (UPR) and the Republican Bloc (BR), after securing an endorsement from outgoing President Patrice Talon.
Talon was constitutionally barred from running for third term after serving two five-year terms, which is the maximum presidential term limit.
While serving as finance minister, President-elect Wadagni led Benin’s economy towards a consistent growth above 6% each year. His campaign message was largely based on continuing this growth pattern.
The only other presidential opponent to Wadagni, Mr. Paul Hounkpe, who is the leader of the opposition party FCBE, has already conceded defeat.
Benin is a West African Francophone country that gained independence from France on August 1, 1960. With a population of about 15 million people, Benin is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the northwest, and Niger to the northeast.
More details to follow on this development.
