Constitutional Court President Dorothe Sossa (C) announces the presidential election results at the Court's headquarters in Cotonou, Benin, on April 16, 2026. Romuald Wadagni has won Benin's presidential election with 94.27 percent of valid votes, according to provisional results announced on Thursday afternoon by the country's Constitutional Court. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
COTONOU, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Romuald Wadagni has won Benin's presidential election with 94.27 percent of valid votes, according to provisional results announced on Thursday afternoon by the country's Constitutional Court.
Wadagni secured victory in the first round of voting held on April 12, defeating his moderate opposition rival, former culture minister Paul Hounkpe, who obtained 5.73 percent of the vote.
The Constitutional Court, Benin's highest authority on electoral disputes, said Wadagni and his running mate Mariam Chabi Talata won 4,575,449 votes, while Hounkpe and Rock Judicael Hounwanou received 278,297 votes. Talata will serve as vice president.
The court said that more than 7.89 million voters were registered nationwide, with over 4.85 million casting ballots, representing a turnout rate of 63.57 percent.
Preliminary results released on Monday by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission had already indicated a decisive lead for Wadagni, who secured 94.05 percent of the vote.
Wadagni, 49, previously worked at Deloitte before entering government after Patrice Talon's election in 2016. He has since served as minister of economy and finance, was reappointed in 2021, and later promoted to senior minister, playing a central role in implementing Talon's economic policies.
Under Benin's electoral code, the president and vice president are elected by direct universal suffrage for a seven-year term. ■
This photo taken on April 16, 2026 shows an exterior view of the Constitutional Court in Cotonou, Benin. Romuald Wadagni has won Benin's presidential election with 94.27 percent of valid votes, according to provisional results announced on Thursday afternoon by the country's Constitutional Court. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)