Benin Opens Polls For Presidential Vote

COTONOU, April 12 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Polling stations opened at 7.00 am local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Benin for an election to choose the country's next president, reported Xinhua.

At one polling centre, Nicolas Tossa, a retired nurse, was the first to cast the ballot. "I am very happy to fulfill my civic duty by voting for the candidate of my choice, and also for the renewal of my country's president."

According to the Autonomous National Electoral Commission, nearly 8 million Beninese are registered to vote across more than 17,000 polling stations nationwide and abroad.

Voting is expected to end at 4.00 pm local time (1500 GMT) on Sunday, with provisional results due within 48 hours.

The vote will elect a successor to President Patrice Talon, who has been in office since 2016.

The two candidates in the race are Romuald Wadagni, finance minister and candidate of the ruling coalition, and Paul Hounkpe, an opposition figure of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin.

According to the electoral law, the country's president and vice president are elected by direct universal suffrage for a seven-year term and may be re-elected only once.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA