Crisis within the Les Démocrates party: Rachidi Gbadamassi lashes out at Boni Yayi

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The former head of state had accused President Patrice Talon of being responsible for the rejection of his ticket’s candidacy file for the 2026 presidential election.

In an interview with the media outlet BL, Rachidi Gbadamassi firmly rejected those accusations, pointing to the opposition party’s internal management. According to him, the real reasons for the rejection of the candidacy lie in LD’s internal dysfunctions, and not in any supposed interference by the authorities.

“While the young lawyer Renaud Agbodjo acknowledged that the rejection of his candidacy is due to internal dysfunctions, Boni Yayi, on the other hand, refuses to take responsibility and blames President Talon,” he said, adding that it is paradoxical that a party called Les Démocrates would be unable to apply the basic rules of democracy within its own ranks.

For Gbadamassi, the former president must show lucidity and accept the decision of the Constitutional Court, a symbol of respect for the rule of law.

He believes that Boni Yayi’s approach to the head of state in an attempt to obtain a political favor is “a trap that President Talon will not fall into.”

The minister–advisor further accuses Boni Yayi of having weakened his own party through “manipulation, hatred, the desire for revenge and the illusion of a return to power.” According to him, the party leadership made a historic mistake by bringing the former president to its head.

“The health-related retirement mentioned by Boni Yayi is a mere pretext. In reality, an internal revolt is beginning to emerge within the party because of his poor management. And to absolve himself, he talks about poaching and financial pressures.

“The one and only person responsible for what is happening to the party Les Démocrates is Boni Yayi,” Rachidi Gbadamassi insisted.

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The former MP finally urged the Beninese people, particularly the populations in the North, not to be emotionally manipulated and to stay focused on the real development challenges facing the country.