In a verdict issued on Thursday, January 4th, and released a day later, the Constitutional Court has called on the National Assembly of Benin to revise the country’s electoral code. The concern lies in the selected dates for the election and installation of deputies and mayors, which jeopardize the timely issuance of endorsements.
The origins of this matter are traced back to a citizen’s petition. Some political analysts and opposition figure Candide Azannaï had previously raised alarms about a potential overlap in the 2026 electoral calendar. Endorsements, issued by mayors and deputies, are mandatory for any candidate participating in the presidential election. In 2026, local and legislative elections are scheduled simultaneously, followed by the presidential election three months later.
The election of new deputies and mayors, along with their assumption of office, would conclude by February 15, 2026. At this point, the deadline for presidential candidate nominations would have already passed, posing a challenge to obtaining endorsements within the stipulated timeframe. Consequently, the Court has called for a correction in the electoral schedule, although no specific deadline has been provided at this stage. The response from opposition parties is eagerly awaited. As of 24 hours after the court’s ruling, key political figures had yet to issue statements on the matter.