In Benin, the presidential movement must be licking its lips right now. The weather for the opposition party, The Democrats, is not looking good at all. Dark clouds are gathering in the sky of this political party, raising fears of a deluge that could put an end to its presidential ambitions.

Indeed, for several days, a member of parliament from this political party has been demanding, by bailiff's writ, the return of his sponsorship form, which had already been recovered by the party's president, Boni Yayi. Having failed to obtain satisfaction, Michel Sodjinou has taken the matter to the Cotonou Court of First Instance.

Cena has already executed the court decision

The court expressly issued a decision ordering Boni Yayi to return the plaintiff's individual sponsorship form. Should the former president resist, the court ordered the Electoral Commission to invalidate the sponsorship form and issue another one to the MP. This was done.

The CENA rushed to comply with the court's decision. Currently, the Democrats have only 27 endorsements, although they absolutely need 28 to participate in the next presidential election.

"I do not recognize the current process of designating the presidential duo"  

In a letter published in the press, the MP who has shaken an entire political party has justified his actions. What we take away from his words is that he simply cannot stomach the choice of the Agbodjo-Lodjou duo. For him, these personalities were appointed following "manipulation and a lack of consultation."

"Under the pretext of unity, MPs were required to sign their endorsement forms blank, without even knowing the names of the candidates they were endorsing. It was made to appear that group discipline meant blind obedience. Nomination committees were organized where the balances were already fixed in advance, where representatives of certain departments were replaced, simply because they were not part of the 'right region' or the 'right clan'. Even though the committee has not yet completed its work, everyone knows that the choice of Mr. Renaud Agbodjo is already a done deal - an estimable young lawyer, but whose political achievements are unknown to anyone," the MP asserted.

He said he did not want to be "complicit in a staging that betrays the founding principles" of the party. "I do not recognize the current process of appointing the presidential duo as it has been conducted," he added.

"I come very humbly to kneel down to beg you to return the sponsorship to the party."

His position is therefore clear: he does not want to grant his sponsorship to the lawyer and his running mate. The man is not even open to discussion. Eric Houndété, the party's vice-president, to whom he is close, has called him repeatedly to speak, but he has not deigned to pick up. Mr. Houndété has therefore decided to write to him, begging him on his knees to reinstate his sponsorship.

"I would like to tell you that we must transcend our differences, think of our party, the Republic, and the sons and daughters of this country. That is why I come very humbly, to kneel down to beg you to return the sponsorship to the party. I know it is difficult for you, but history calls upon us and all of Benin is watching us. We have a duty to live up to the people's expectations. Because it should not be said that the failure to submit your sponsorship prevented a healthy competition from taking place in the interest of the country," the honorable deputy told him in a letter dated yesterday, Wednesday, October 15.

Let us recall that on Tuesday, October 14, the president of the CENA, Sacca Lafia, notified the opposition party duo that their file needed to be completed. He was certainly referring to the absence of the 28th sponsorship form in the documents.

The Democrats still have until tomorrow, Friday, to convince Mr. Sodjinou. If they fail, they can technically kiss their presidential dream goodbye. Talon's heir apparent, Romuald Wadagni, would then have a clear path ahead, facing candidates that some observers are already calling "stunts."