It is an undeniable victory for the presidential camp. According to the provisional results communicated by the National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) on the night of April 13-14, 2026, Romuald Wadagni was elected president of the Republic of Benin with a massive score of 94% of the votes .

Key points of the election

1. Winner: Romuald Wadagni (current Minister of Economy), 49 years old.
2. Score: 94% of the votes.
3. Opponent: Paul Hounkpè (FCBE), who receives approximately 6%.
4. Participation: 59% (up from 50% in 2021).
5. Term of office: 7 years.

An unsurprising transition

Romuald Wadagni, Patrice Talon's designated successor, has confirmed the entrenchment of the current regime. His sole rival from the so-called "moderate" opposition, Paul Hounkpè , did not wait for the official results to be announced before conceding defeat. In a statement released earlier, the FCBE candidate congratulated the future head of state, confirming an outcome that most observers already considered certain.

Safety and participation

The voter turnout is one of the key takeaways from this election. With 59% of registered voters participating , the 2026 election surpassed the mobilization of 2021 (86% of votes for Patrice Talon with 50% turnout).

On the security front, the president of the CENI (National Independent Electoral Commission), Sacca Lafia , assured that voting had taken place throughout the country. Although "attempts to disrupt" had been reported in some areas of the north, the intervention of the defense forces ensured the electoral process remained safe.

Next step: The Constitutional Court must now examine the figures to proclaim the final results of the election.