By Dr. Prudence Eboagwu-Ijah
The Benin Republic diaspora community in Nigeria has declared strong support for presidential candidate Romuald Wadagni and his running mate Mariam Chabi Talata, calling on eligible voters to turn out in large numbers for the April 12 election.
A former president of the Benin diaspora in Nigeria, Hounkpafi Honore, described the ticket as “very brilliant” and “experienced,” pointing to Wadagni’s track record as Minister of Finance.
“For us here in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, it is important to let the world know that the progress recorded in the Republic over the past decade has been tremendous and deserves to be sustained,” Honore said.
He disclosed that the presidential election will be conducted across ten countries, including Nigeria, with designated voting centres in Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan.
Honore also highlighted the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Benin, noting that both nations share close affinities despite geographic boundaries. “We are essentially one people, separated only by borders. We want the diaspora community to rally behind our candidate and ensure he emerges with strong support,” he added.
The Ambassador of the Benin Republic to Nigeria, Berenice Gnansounou Bankole, said the inclusion of diaspora voting aligns with the country’s constitutional provisions.
“We have expanded voting to ten countries, including Nigeria, because of the significant number of our citizens residing abroad,” she explained.
According to the ambassador, between one and two million Beninese nationals live in Nigeria, spread across states such as Lagos State, Ogun State, and Niger State.
Addressing concerns about election security, Bankole expressed optimism, describing elections in Benin as peaceful and community-oriented. “Elections in Benin are more like a celebration—a gathering of brothers and sisters. We do not anticipate any security challenges on election day,” she said.
She reaffirmed confidence in a smooth and peaceful electoral process.
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