COTONOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission on Monday commended the orderly organization of the presidential election held one day ago in Benin.
According to a statement, Nana Akufo-Addo, head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, who visited several polling stations in Cotonou, praised the peaceful and calm atmosphere observed throughout the country.
"This peaceful climate that characterized the conduct of the presidential election demonstrates the maturity of Benin's democracy and its people," he said.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, also commended the smooth organization of the vote.
A total of 120 ECOWAS observers were deployed across Benin's departments and cities on Sunday to monitor the opening and conduct of voting operations nationwide.
Nearly 7.9 million registered voters cast their ballots in the first round of the presidential election to choose a successor to incumbent President Patrice Talon, whose term will expire on May 23. ■