Presidential election in Benin: Renaud Agbodjo explains the two reasons for his disqualification (full statement)
Designated candidate of the party Les Démocrates for the 2026 presidential election, Attorney Renaud Agbodjo announced on Tuesday that he acknowledges his disqualification confirmed by the Constitutional Court. He attributes this disqualification to two factors: internal dysfunctions within the party and culpable adversities. Speaking to the press in his office in Cotonou, the young lawyer also declared his withdrawal from Beninese political life.
Me Renaud Agbodjo
This decision comes the day after the high court upheld the rejection of his candidacy by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA). Calling for calm, Attorney Agbodjo urged his supporters and the public to refrain from “any act of violence or reprisals in order to preserve social peace and harmony.”
In a calm and lucid tone, he also addressed the candidate of the ruling power, Romuald Wadagni, urging him, in the event of victory, to “do everything possible to bring together all sensibilities and work toward a frank national reconciliation.”
The lawyer, who had emerged in recent weeks as a rising figure of the young political generation, thus leaves the scene with a call for responsibility and peace. Below is the full text of his statement.
Press statement by Attorney Renaud AGBODJO
People of Benin, dear compatriots,
I wished, in complete freedom and full responsibility, to speak to you again after the decision rendered by the Constitutional Court last night, following the appeal filed against the rejection of my candidacy and that of Mr. Lodjou by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA).
This is an unfortunate and damaging decision, because I was the victim of internal dysfunctions within my political party and of culpable adversities. As a practitioner of the law and committed to legality, I am obliged, despite myself, to acknowledge the decision of the Constitutional Court.
Despite all my disappointment, and above all the sadness and distress into which this decision has plunged millions of our compatriots who, through my candidacy for the presidential election, had strongly hoped for a change of course in the governance of our country, I was particularly moved by all the enthusiasm and popular joy that my selection as the Les Démocrates party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election inspired.