Presidential election in Benin: Renaud Agbodjo explains the two reasons for his disqualification (full statement)

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This decision comes the day after the high court upheld the rejection of his candidacy by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA). Calling for calm, Attorney Agbodjo urged his supporters and the public to refrain from “any act of violence or reprisals in order to preserve social peace and harmony.”

In a calm and lucid tone, he also addressed the candidate of the ruling power, Romuald Wadagni, urging him, in the event of victory, to “do everything possible to bring together all sensibilities and work toward a frank national reconciliation.”

The lawyer, who had emerged in recent weeks as a rising figure of the young political generation, thus leaves the scene with a call for responsibility and peace. Below is the full text of his statement.

Press statement by Attorney Renaud AGBODJO

People of Benin, dear compatriots,
I wished, in complete freedom and full responsibility, to speak to you again after the decision rendered by the Constitutional Court last night, following the appeal filed against the rejection of my candidacy and that of Mr. Lodjou by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA).

This is an unfortunate and damaging decision, because I was the victim of internal dysfunctions within my political party and of culpable adversities. As a practitioner of the law and committed to legality, I am obliged, despite myself, to acknowledge the decision of the Constitutional Court.

Despite all my disappointment, and above all the sadness and distress into which this decision has plunged millions of our compatriots who, through my candidacy for the presidential election, had strongly hoped for a change of course in the governance of our country, I was particularly moved by all the enthusiasm and popular joy that my selection as the Les Démocrates party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election inspired.

I am infinitely grateful to you for that.
I would also like to express my gratitude to President Thomas Boni Yayi, president of the Les Démocrates party, for the confidence he placed in Beninese youth by sponsoring my candidacy. But unfortunately, this first attempt could not become a masterstroke, and we all know the internal party reasons that led to the rejection of my candidacy by the CENA.

Personally, and as a Christian and a man of faith, I feel no rancor or resentment toward anyone, notably the Honorable Michel Sodjinou, to whom I express my regrets. I therefore call on the people of Benin to do the same and to refrain from any act of violence or reprisals in order to preserve social peace and harmony.

All of this will unfortunately become part of our shared history, because this election, like many others, will be neither inclusive nor consensual, despite the guidance given by the founding fathers of the historic National Conference of the Living Forces. But we must preserve peace and use every possible channel of dialogue to resolve our disputes.

Drawing lessons from this exhilarating experience, during which I was able to defend prominent men and women in politics for nearly a decade in defense of liberties and democracy, I think, after much reflection, that it may be time to take a break.

I would therefore like to announce to the Beninese nation my temporary withdrawal from Beninese political life, in order to devote much more time to my family, my practice and my close ones. It is an extremely difficult decision, but one that I have given a long time of thought.

Before concluding, I would also like to address the candidates retained by the CENA for the upcoming presidential election on April 12, 2026, and particularly the youngest of these candidates. Mr. Minister of State Romuald Wadagni, your responsibility in leading Benin’s destiny will be great. You are brilliant and competent — an open secret. But the Beninese people are attached to freedom, social justice and the reconciliation of all their sons deprived of liberty and forced into exile.

I urge you, in the event of victory — and that is the only misfortune I wish you not to have — to do everything possible to bring together all political, economic and social sensibilities around the same table, for a true, sincere reconciliation and for the welfare of the Beninese people.

May God bless Benin. Thank you.
Cotonou, October 28, 2025.