Court postpones Benin elections

The Constitution Court, the final authority for electoral matters in Benin has postponed the elections of the West African country from February 28 to March 6, 2016.

The decision was taken after the political parties, the 34 candidates, the National Independent Electoral Commission and the Voter Register Coordinating Body reached a consensus on Wednesday night that the elections scheduled for 28 February cannot go ahead.

Graphic Online's reporter, Kwamena Nyamekye who is in Cotonou to report on the elections said the election was postponed due to the low level of manufacturing and the distribution of voter cards.

The decision was communicated to the Constitution Court which added it's seal.

Constitutionally, the next President of Benin must be sworn in April 6.

Graphic Online's sources at the voter registration body which is different from the Electoral Commission said that only 59 per cent of the voter identity cards have been manufactured.

Only two out of about 12 regions have started seeing signs of distribution of the cards. Benin has 4.7 million voters.

Originally, campaigning was supposed to start 15 days to election.