No fewer than two million citizens of Benin Republic in Nigeria are expected to vote in the forthcoming April 12, 2026 national election.

Nigeria is among the 10 countries where citizens in the Diaspora would be voting.

They are expected to vote in three cities – Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan on April 12, the Benin Republic Charge de Affairs in Nigeria, Mrs. Bernice Gnansounou Bankole, confirmed yesterday.

The ruling coalition candidate is the country’s Minister of Finance and Economy, Mr. Romuald Wadagni and he will be running with the Vice President Mariam Chabi Talata.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme organised for Beninois in Abuja, Mrs. Bankole said: “We have lots of our compatriots in Nigeria and so election will take place in three cities in Nigeria. Everything is going fine and we are ready for the election.

“In Nigeria, we will be having elections in our embassy in Abuja here, also in our consul general in Lagos, also in our honorary consul at Ibadan, in Oyo State. So, that’s why we gather you here to witness this memorable occasion.

“We have a huge spread of our compatriots in Nigeria and so the media chat is to sensitise them to come out massively to vote on the April 12, 2026. We are ready and we will continue to sensitise all Beninois for the election.”

Former President of Beninois resident in Nigeria, Mr. Hormone Younkpati, urged all Beninois to vote for the duo of Wadagni and Talata for the sake of continuity.

Younkpati said the duo are better positioned to continue the transformation in the country.

He stressed that the current government have done a lot to transform the country and so the people would not just be asking for a change for the area of politics.

Younkpati said the current administration under President Patrice Talon has made things easier for the Diaspora and they would want that to continue.

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Urging his compatriots to come out in large numbers to vote on April 12 for the right candidates to wins.

Younkpati also noted that Benin has become a model of democracy in West Africa.

He said: “For us, in Nigeria and in Abuja, it’s very special for us to let the world know that the progress that we’ve witnessed for the past 10 years in the republic is tremendous. And it needs to be encouraged.

“And as you can see behind me, the two candidates that we have, wadagni and Mrs. Talata. They are the ones standing for the election.

“This very young man, very brilliant, that has shown his experience all this while, while in the government as a minister of finance. And you can see it in social media. For those of us that have traveled to the republic for the past few years, you will understand what I’m saying.

“So, for us, in Nigeria and in Abuja in particular, we want to bring our support to that young candidate for a big win on that day, in the evening of 12th of April. We’ll all come enmass and vote that candidate. And that’s the main reason why we’re here, to sensitise our people and to also tell them about this, our mission.”

“We know where the country was and where this team has taking it to. For now, for us, in the Diaspora, we can access every administrative document without going through the stress of travelling back home.

“Everything is online. For us, the diaspora, that is a very great development that we’ve got. Before, we had to travel home to go and get all these documents.

“So, we cannot, because somebody wants power by force, and because of that, we see development ongoing, and we want to go and support that very person because we want change. Change does not just come to block evolution.

“It’s already said, the economy in Benin is the 17th among the West African economies in year 2020. So, we know where we were and where we are now.” (The Nation)