Former president Thomas Boni Yayi has denounced the disqualification of his party’s presidential ticket, Renaud Agbodjo – Jude Lodjou, from the Les Démocrates party in the upcoming April 2026 election, calling it a “policy of exclusion contrary to democracy.”
In a statement released on Wednesday, Boni Yayi said the Constitutional Court’s decision undermines the democratic framework established after Benin’s National Conference in February 1990. He argued that barring the opposition violates democratic principles and human rights as outlined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Boni Yayi recalled his meeting with President Patrice Talon on October 24, in which he reportedly urged for his party’s inclusion in the elections. He further accused the government of pursuing a systematic exclusion of Les Démocrates members since 2016, including attempts to destabilize the party and lure away parliamentarians.
Despite these tensions, the former president called for calm, unity, and faith.
The Constitutional Court confirmed on October 27 the final list of candidates: Romuald Wadagni and Mariam Chabi Talata for the ruling coalition, and Paul Hounkpè and Rock Judicaël Hounwanou for the parliamentary opposition. Agbodjo and Lodjou were disqualified due to an insufficient number of endorsements.
