UP-PRD Crisis: “We’re a bit at a loss, but we’ll know how to adapt…”, Charlemagne Yankoty
As a guest on the show From You to Us, broadcasted on Peace FM, the mayor of Porto-Novo, Charlemagne Yankoty, gave a detailed commentary on the crisis shaking the Progressive Union the Renewal (UPR), born from the political merger between the Progressive Union and the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) of Me Adrien Houngbédji.
SUMMARY
As internal disagreements today threaten the balance of this alliance, the city mayor took a lucid yet conciliatory approach. Reminding of the deep historical and identity links between Porto-Novo and the PRD, Charlemagne Yankoty emphasized the psychological and symbolic impact of a possible breakdown of the coalition:
“I do not dream of seeing a divorce. Any breakup would affect the unity of the party, but also the image of the people of Porto-Novo.»
In a context where tensions are crystallising around differences in positioning and leadership within the presidential movement, the mayor cautioned against the temptation to turn this crisis into a political score-settling. According to him, beyond ambitions, it’s the given word that wavers:
“This gives the impression that the man from Porto-Novo does not keep his word. This deeply bothers me.”
A crisis of trust more than ideology
The elected city official also condemned the verbal attacks on Me Adrien Houngbédji following his statements on February 3rd, reminding that these remarks should not formally commit the entire party. He called for restraint, and to avoid confusion:
“The UPR and the BR are of the same movement, but they are political adversaries. We should not mix things up.”
For Charlemagne Yankoty, responsibilities for this crisis are shared, and introspection is mandatory for both sides. He advocates for a return to trust and dialogue rather than division :
“My prayer is that we find a solution and that peace returns.”
A departure from PRD? A dreaded but assumed possibility
Discussing the possibility of a departure of PRD from the merger, the mayor of Porto-Novo did not rule out the militants adapting to this new context, while regretting the fragility of commitments made:
“We’re a bit distraught. We didn’t expect this. But we’ll adapt.”
As the 2026 presidential deadline looms, this fracture within the UPR could have significant electoral repercussions, particularly in the Ouémé department, a historical stronghold of the PRD.
Charlemagne Yankoty’s message thus resonates as both a warning and an offer of reconciliation: to calm tensions, restore cohesion, and prevent partisan quarrels from jeopardizing the political future of a coalition losing coherence.
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