Benin – Democrats’ Appeal: Constitutional Court Says It Lacks Jurisdiction

Drama in Cotonou. Meeting in plenary session this Thursday, October 23, 2025, the Constitutional Court declared itself incompetent in the appeal brought by the party Les Démocrates against the decision of the Court of First Instance of Cotonou concerning the sponsorship of deputy Michel Sodjinou.

The judges of the High Court found that the dispute fell within the judicial domain and not within constitutional litigation.

This much-anticipated decision is a setback for the opposition party, which had hoped the Court would annul the order invalidating deputy Sodjinou’s sponsorship, a key factor for validating the presidential ticket Agbodjo-Lodjou.

A decision that some describe as a headlong rush by the High Court, a kind of refusal to rule.

“We remain standing for the love we have for this country,” said a party official after the hearing.

Meanwhile, the CENA is continuing its electoral calendar, after publishing the provisional results of the candidacies accepted for the 2026 presidential election. The disqualified tickets still have 48 hours to bring the matter before the competent court.