Benin Republic dey vote to elect new President

Voting don start for Benin to elect a new president for a seven-year term.

Polls bin open at 7am (06:00 GMT) on Sunday and go close at 4pm (15:00 GMT).

More dan 7.9 million pipo dey registered to vote, including 62,000 for di diaspora.

President Patrice Talon, wey don dey rule di West African kontri since 2016, dey end im two-year mandate.

Di vote dey come just four months afta one failed coup attempt for di kontri.

Finance Minister Romould Wadagni of di ruling coalition dey widely seen as di frontrunner and many view di election as mere formality.

Di candidates

Ova 7.9 million voters dey expected to cast dia ballots, but di race offer limited choice, as na only two candidates dey on di ballot.

Di main opposition party dey disqualified for failing to meet endorsement requirements.

Dem bin need endorsements from at least 28 MPs, but na di ruling coalition dominate parliament, and di opposition no win any seats.

Finance Minister Romould Wadagni, dey run on di platform of continuity. E promise to expand access to clean water and guarantee emergency healthcare.

Di 49-year-old former Deloitte executive, point to steady economic growth and relative stability under di current administration.

E bin launch im campaign for March for Kandi, one strategic trading hub near di border wit Niger and Nigeria, and later travel to oda parts of di north, including Banikoara and Ségbana, two localities deeply affected by di militant Islamist insurgency attacks.

For front of thousands of supporters, e pledge say di safety of evri resident go be a "daily priority" if e enta office.

"We no go let any dark forces come take our lands or threaten citizens. We go make sure our whole kontri dey under protection," e tok.

Im challenger, Paul Hounkpe, one former culture minister and candidate of di Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin, don pledge to strengthen relations wit neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger as part of effort to tackle growing insecurity for di north.

Di 56-year-old don also promise to release political prisoners. But e no get enough support base to cause major upset.

As e dey launch im campaign for di economic capital, Oga Hounkpè, say: "We must join forces wit our neighbours without losing our dignity.

"Benin no fit act alone, close cooperation wit Niger and Burkina Faso dey essential."

Hounkpè's view dey significant, as Benin relationship wit di two states drop following di coups for there.

Despite recent economic gains, Benin don continue to grapple wit poverty and attacks by militants linked to JNIM.

Di al Qaeda-linked jihadist group kill 54 sojas for April last year and more recently 15 inside attacks last month.

Di election follow constitutional changes dem adopt last year, wey extend di presidential term from five to seven years and create senate wey dey made up of former senior officials and ex-presidents.

Analysts tok say di outgoing president dey likely to retain significant influence afta e comot for office. E also don face criticism ova alleged restrictions on dissent and freedom of expression.

Benin, kontri wit population of 15 million na one of west Africa most stable democracies, in a region wia military coups dey common.

Candidate must secure at least fifty percent of di vote to win di election. Polls go close at 4pm local time and provisional results dey expected on Tuesday.