Benin: Presidential election set to proceed to run-off between Lionel Zinsou and Patrice Talon

Benin’s presidential election looks likely to be a second-round runoff between Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou and businessman Patrice Talon, the country’s electoral commission indicated on Tuesday.

Lionel Zinsou obtained 28.4 percent of the vote in Sunday’s first round, with Patrice Talon a close second, with 24.8 percent of the vote, while business leader Sebastien Ajavon came in third with 23.03 percent in a record field of 33 candidates.

Electoral commission president Emmanuel Tiando announced the polling in the early hours of Tuesday. Confirmed results from the first round will come from the Constitutional Court.

Incumbent President Thomas Boni Yayi is stepping down after serving a maximum two 5-year terms – his mandate expires on April 6.

A second-round ballot appears likely in the coming weeks because no candidate managed to grab a majority of support from the nation’s 4.7 million voters.

Key issues in the election include urgent job creation; the economy; and improving access to health and education.

Benin, a largely agricultural country, which is dwarfed by Nigeria to the east, is working to position itself as a major regional shipping hub.

Source: Agencies