FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes Benin's Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, November 19, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo
The National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) in Benin has entered the second day of receiving nominations for the 2026 presidential election — but no candidate has yet submitted an application.
The crucial phase of the electoral process officially began on Friday, October 10, and will close on Tuesday, October 14. Despite the anticipation surrounding this key stage, CENA officials in Cotonou confirmed that by the end of Saturday, October 11, no political figure or representative had appeared at the commission’s headquarters to submit a dossier.
CENA staff, who have been mobilized since the start of the registration period, remain on standby as they await representatives from the country’s main political blocs — the ruling presidential movement, the Cowrie Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE), and the opposition coalition known as the Democrats party.
According to the established timetable, candidates have three more days to complete their paperwork and file their nominations before the deadline expires. Officials at the electoral body have reiterated their commitment to transparency, fairness, and punctuality in the process.
“The CENA is ready to receive all applications and ensure strict compliance with deadlines,” a spokesperson for the commission stated.
This submission phase marks a decisive milestone in Benin’s path toward the 2026 presidential election. Once the window closes, the commission will proceed with reviewing the applications, verifying compliance with electoral requirements, and publishing the official list of approved presidential duos.
As the countdown continues, attention is focused on which political leaders will step forward to contest the presidency — and whether the nation’s key parties will meet the submission deadline set by the CENA.
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