Sodjinou case: Les Démocrates before the Constitutional Court this Thursday
In Benin, all eyes are on the Constitutional Court this Thursday, October 23, 2025, where the plenary hearing opens on the litigation between MP Michel Sodjinou and the party Les Démocrates, engaged in a legal battle with high political stakes.
Cour constitutionnelle du Bénin
Originally scheduled for Monday, October 20, the hearing had been postponed at the request of the Les Démocrates party. MP Abdel Kamar Ouassagari, the party’s representative, had requested an additional 72-hour delay in order to complete the documents in the file concerning the annulment of MP Michel Sodjinou’s endorsement.
The appeal brought by Mr. Ouassagari seeks to challenge an order from the Cotonou court of first instance that invalidated Michel Sodjinou’s endorsement form.
This judicial decision reduced the number of endorsements held by Les Démocrates to 27, below the constitutional threshold of 28 signatures required to present a candidate for the 2026 presidential election.
“It is essential that the Court grant us the time necessary to produce the additional elements proving the validity of our colleague’s endorsement,” MP Ouassagari said after the previous hearing, which had been suspended on Monday.
By granting the party’s request, the Constitutional Court has shown its willingness to ensure a fair and transparent procedure.
The plenary hearing therefore resumes this Thursday, and the awaited verdict could have a heavy impact on Les Démocrates’ participation in the 2026 presidential election.
Meanwhile, another development is drawing attention: the party president, Boni Yayi, as well as the designated candidate duo Renaud Agbodjo and Jude Lodjou, have been summoned to the Directorate of Judicial Police in Cotonou. A separate criminal procedure, the details of which have not yet been made public.