With just over a year remaining before Benin’s 2026 presidential election, the National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) has moved to clarify the rules governing candidate sponsorship to members of the 9th legislature.
The briefing took place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at the Parliament building in Porto-Novo.
During the session, CENA’s Director General of Elections, Boucary Abou Adama, outlined the two cumulative conditions required to validate a presidential candidacy.
“The first sets a minimum threshold of 15% of elected mayors and/or deputies, equivalent to 28 signatures in total,” he said.
“The second requires geographical representation: sponsors must come from at least 15 of the country’s 24 electoral districts.”
Introduced during the 2021 presidential vote, this sponsorship requirement has become a key step in determining candidate eligibility.
To ensure transparency, CENA provides each elected official with a nominative, non-transferable sponsorship form that must be submitted as part of a candidate’s file.
Boucary Abou Adama further explained the technical process for issuing sponsorship forms for the 2026 elections.
It will unfold in two phases: reception and submission of signatures, followed by verification and printing.
At each stage, a CENA agent will accompany the sponsor to validate personal information and guarantee the authenticity of the document.
The meeting also offered deputies the opportunity to raise questions and suggest adjustments to improve the system’s organisation. Officials described the discussions as constructive, aimed at anticipating potential challenges and strengthening the credibility of the electoral process.
By reaffirming its commitment to rigorous and fair election management, CENA seeks to bolster confidence among political actors and the public in the sponsorship mechanism. This briefing follows earlier consultations held with Benin’s 77 mayors, underscoring the commission’s proactive approach to ensuring transparency and adherence to electoral law in the lead-up to the next presidential vote.
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