Benin: LD Party Challenges Court’s Decision on MP Sodjinou’s Endorsement Form

In a statement released this Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the party led by Thomas Boni Yayi challenged the judicial court’s authority to rule on a dispute that, in its view, falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court.

The party pointed out that, under the Constitution, disputes relating to the electoral process, and more specifically to the presidential election, fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court. Consequently, any judicial decision regarding the issuance or withdrawal of an endorsement form would, according to the party, be “without legal basis” and would constitute a breach of the constitutional legal order.

Les Démocrates announced that it had petitioned the Constitutional Court to have the lower court’s lack of jurisdiction formally recognized and to reaffirm the legal scope of its case law, in order to preserve, in the party’s words, “the integrity of the electoral process against any attempt to unlawfully challenge a candidacy.”

The statement specified that the party’s approach would be based on the laws in force and on the timeline set by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA).

Separately, the party announced the official filing of its presidential ticket’s candidacy documents, scheduled for that evening. The statement affirmed that the party’s file was backed by the twenty-eight endorsements required by law.

Les Démocrates concluded by reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law, respect for the Constitution, and the holding of free, transparent and inclusive elections.