2026 presidential election in Benin: a surprise duo received by CENA this Tuesday
The National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) registered on Tuesday, October 14 the candidacy files of an unexpected duo.
The National Autonomous Electoral Commission registered on Tuesday the candidacy file for the 2026 presidential elections. These are the files of an unexpected duo.
A scenario nobody saw coming. While attention was focused on the tickets announced by the major political formations, namely the party Les Démocrates and Force Cauris pour un Bénin émergent, an unexpected tandem arrived this morning. The duo is made up of Prince Anatole Ouinsavi and Agathe Bello.
According to a post by the national television on its Facebook page, Prince Anatole Ouinsavi is running for the presidency, while Agathe Bello, his running mate, is positioning herself for the post of vice president of the Republic.
Arriving at the CENA in a calm but curiosity-charged atmosphere, the two candidates were received by the electoral staff and, under the cameras, completed the formalities to submit their file.
After the registration, the president of the CENA, Sacca Lafia, handed them a provisional receipt, an administrative symbol confirming the file was received. An important step, but not decisive, as the institution reminds on its official page. This receipt does not amount to validation of the candidacy. It is simply an acknowledgment of receipt, pending verification of the file’s compliance.
The candidate duo says they are part of the presidential camp and justifies their candidacy by noting that the camp has several sponsorship options. The duo pledges to make sure that victory goes to the presidential camp.
This day, October 14, 2025, marks the fourth and final day for submitting candidacies to the CENA. The Ouinsavi–Bello ticket thus becomes the second tandem to clear this crucial step, after the presidential camp’s ticket, Romuald Wadagni and Mariam Chabi Talata, who filed their papers on Monday, October 13.
On the opposition side, the parties Les Démocrates (LD) and Forces Cauris pour un Bénin Émergent (FCBE) are still expected at the institution.
According to the latest information, Les Démocrates have ultimately settled on lawyer Renaud Agbodjo to carry the party’s colors, accompanied by Jude Bonaventure Lodjou, a former MP and party official. A decision made after intense political negotiations that lasted until the early hours of Tuesday morning.
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