BENIN’S WADAGNI WINS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WITH LANDSLIDE 94% OF VOTES

Benin’s Minister of Finance Romuald Wadagni has secured a landslide victory in the country’s presidential election with more than 94 percent of the votes, according to provisional results.

Sacca Lafia, head of the country’s independent electoral commission, ⁠announced on national television ⁠late on Monday night that the result was based on more than ⁠90 percent of votes counted, ⁠highlighting Wadagni’s unassailable lead.

Voter ⁠turnout for the election stood at 58.78 percent, Lafia said. Opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin party acknowledged his defeat earlier in the night in a television statement carried by local broadcasters.

Wadagni is the chosen successor of Benin’s President Patrice Talon and was backed by the country’s governing coalition.

Talon is stepping down after completing two full five-year terms.

The elections come four months after Benin’s government was rocked by a coup attempt, which was put down by security forces with the assistance of Nigerian troops.