Municipal elections: Benin completes a strange electoral campaign

Text by: RFI Follow

End of virtual campaign for 18,000 candidates in the communal race on Sunday May 7 in Benin. They represent 4 parties of the Talon movement and only 1 said of the opposition. The candidates complete 15 days of a particular campaign. Almost everything was done in the press. The Covid-19 was the choice of the electoral commission and the government requisitioned 86 radio stations, 6 televisions and around 50 newspapers from the written press. 

Publicity

With our correspondent in Cotonou , Jean-Luc Aplogan

Each party was entitled to 40 minutes a day on radio and television for their propaganda. A few hours before the end of the campaign, Parfait Ahoyo, PRD communications delegate, is still wondering. “  We are in a situation of doubt, should we go into contact with the people or not? The remote campaign is very complicated. We have passed on our messages, we will see the results. We will evaluate . "

On the side of the Progressive Union, the party has adapted, explains the head of communication Annick Djimadja. “  It is an option that has its advantages and disadvantages. Not all voters are on the media, voters are won on the ground. I can say that everything went well  ”.

The Céna has prohibited meetings, processions, door to door . And yet, several candidates cheated. They have been denounced and lynched sometimes on social networks. The Order of Physicians was shocked to see them bring together activists, sometimes without masks. He split a scathing reminder statement for the candidates.

The campaign ends with a televised radio debate. On the billboards, and on social networks, the candidates put their eyes full on voters. But the Beninese voter far prefers meetings and door to door, a blessed moment when gadgets and banknotes are distributed to them.

Ajavon's party absent from the poll

In addition to the context of the pandemic, the campaign was also marked by debates on the presence of the opposition in the election. Because if Force cowries for an emerging Benin (FCBE) is authorized to participate, it is the only opposition party in the race. Sébastien Ajavon's Social Liberal Union (USL), for example, will be absent. The party still does not have its receipt which must prove its legal existence. 

The opponent and businessman seized the African Court on this subject , which, in a judgment, asked Benin a few weeks ago to suspend the poll.
But the electoral process has come to an end and on Sunday more than 5 million voters are called to the polls. Deployment of equipment continues. Not to the taste of Mr. Ajavon's party. "  Stay at home on Sunday  " launched the USL party in a slogan on social networks. 

For his spokesperson Don Clame Aballo, Sunday's poll is illegal. “  The municipal elections will be held in total illegality although there is a protective measure against this type of elections. Anything that comes out of this election parody is attackable. Elected officials can be attacked in any court. And these elected representatives could not legally sponsor any candidate for the presidential election of 2021. For us, there is nothing at stake. We simply have to let Patrice Talon show us that Benin is no longer a democratic country.  "

But for the Director of Communication at the Presidency of the Republic, the intentional trials made to the government in 2019, qualifying the last "  legislative elections as non-inclusive  " no longer have a place in the hands of the communales on Sunday. All the parties in good standing and who wanted to participate are there.

Wilfried Houngbedji, director of communication for the Benin presidency, at the microphone of our correspondent, Jean-Luc Aplogan

RFI

"  Sunday's elections are open ," said Wilfried Houngbedji. All the political parties that have agreed to take part are on the starting list. There is at least one big opposition party which is in the competition, other parties which support the power could not be qualified ... As for the USL party of Sébastien Ajavon, I do not know that in the Interior Ministry books, there is a party registered in this name, I do not know that a party of this name has submitted its application to the Céna and has been qualified or not.  "

Restoring Hope to the former Defense Minister of Patrice Talon, who has become a radical opponent, Candide Azanaï, despite the recognition of his legal existence chose not to take part in the ballot, considering that it was "not credible" .

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Benign
• Coronavirus

On the same subject

Africa Report

Benin: provision of online courses during confinement

Municipal elections: Benin enters the electoral campaign