Three weeks before Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election on October 25, 2025, Cojep President Charles Blé Goudé announced his support for former First Lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo.
Speaking to his supporters in Yamoussoukro, he confirmed that he would join and lead her campaign.
Despite acknowledging his close ties with Ahoua Don Mello, another presidential candidate and former executive of Laurent Gbagbo’s PPA-CI party, Blé Goudé said he would not support him and instead urged the opposition to unite behind a single candidate to strengthen their chances at the polls.
He emphasized the importance of national unity, democratic participation, and a peaceful political process, calling on Ivorians to reject violence and believe in change through the ballot box.
Blé Goudé criticized those discouraging voter participation, noting that apathy would only strengthen the ruling camp.
The Constitutional Council had earlier confirmed five candidates for the October 25 election: Alassane Ouattara, Jean-Louis Billon, Ahoua Don Mello, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, and Henriette Lagou.
