2026 elections in Benin: CENA calls for the rejection of the Democrats’ appeals
The legal showdown continues ahead of the 2026 presidential election in Benin. After rejecting several candidacies, the National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) has turned to the Constitutional Court to justify its decisions and ask the high court to declare the appeals submitted to it inadmissible.
SUMMARY
The National Autonomous Electoral Commission argued for the dismissal of the appeals from the Les Démocrates party. In its presentation, the CENA summarizes the facts and puts forward strict arguments to convince the Court to dismiss all the petitions.
Inadmissibility for Time-Bar
This is the main argument put forward against the Les Démocrates party duo formed by Vignilé Renaud AGBODJIO and Jude Bonaventure LODJOU.
The CENA points out that its decision was notified to the candidates on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. In accordance with the Electoral Code, the candidates had a legal period of 48 hours to file their appeals, that is until Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 10:30 a.m., the election body indicates.
However, it notes, the appeal of the Agbodjio-Lodiou duo was registered at the Court on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 10:40 a.m., i.e. after the legal deadline had expired, rendering it inadmissible due to time-bar.
The individual appeal of Mr. Jude Bonaventure LODJOU is also affected by that same time-bar.
As for the appeals of Habibou WOROUCOUBOU and Karim GOUNDI, the CENA invokes two combined grounds: their appeals were filed on October 25 and 26, 2025, also after the expiration of the 48-hour legal deadline following the October 23 notification.
Lack of Standing
The CENA notes that these gentlemen were not part of the candidate duo whose application was rejected. Therefore, it argues, they do not have a direct and personal interest to act, and their petitions must be declared inadmissible for that reason as well.
The CENA’s Defense on the Merits
On the merits, the CENA also responds to Mr. Jude Bonaventure LODJOU’s challenges regarding the validity of an endorsement form. Mr. LODJOU contested the invalidation of deputy Michel SODJINOU’s endorsement form after the issuance of a new form.
The CENA maintains that its action is in line with its « duty to guarantee the continuity of the electoral process » and that it complied with the strict sponsorship legislation. It asks the Court to defer to its judgment on the merits of the case.
Ultimately, the CENA asks the Constitutional Court to :
- Declare the petitions of Messrs. WOROUCOUBOU and GOUNDI inadmissible for lack of standing and for time-bar.
- Declare the appeal filed by the AGBODJIO and LODJOU duo inadmissible due to time-bar.
- Declare the individual appeal of Mr. Jude Bonaventure LODJOU inadmissible due to time-bar.
The decision of the Constitutional Court is now awaited to endorse or overturn the CENA’s position.
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