Antoine Guédou-Vissétogbé, president of the GSR party and spokesman for the Cadre de Concertation de l’Opposition, was a guest on Version Originale on Carrefour TVC on Sunday March 16, 2025, when he offered a critical analysis of the current electoral code.
A few months ahead of the 2026 general elections, he warned against the risks of electoral deadlock linked to articles 42 and 93 of the controversial text.
Speaking to journalist Herbert Tauyé Houngnibo, the opposition politician pointed out the difficulties in applying article 93 of the electoral code, in particular the obligation for the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) to provide counting sheets to all parties involved in the race.
According to him, during a recent consultation session with CENA, its officials acknowledged that the strict application of this provision posed a problem.
” This time, we’re going to manage to obtain the counting sheets, and we’re not going to let ourselves be taken for a ride ,” he insisted, suggesting that the opposition will use every means at its disposal to guarantee the transparency of the ballot.
Antoine Guédou-Vissétogbé also referred to an attempted hearing with the Constitutional Court to draw its attention to the issue. However, according to Guédou-Vissétogbé, this request remained unanswered, which, in his view, reinforces the lack of institutional commitment to correcting irregularities.
With regard to article 42, he pointed out a major inconsistency: candidacies will be filed before publication of the electoral list. ” If you are a candidate and you don’t appear on the electoral list, what do you do? ” he asked, denouncing the risk of arbitrary disqualification.
An electoral code promulgated on the basis of an erroneous document?
Going further, the opponent asserted that the current electoral code had been modified after its passage through the National Assembly, before being presented to President Patrice Talon for promulgation. He accused the instigators of this maneuver of having reintroduced provisions that had been removed from the initial text.
According to him, the Constitutional Court was informed of this irregularity, but nevertheless validated the text, which poses a problem of legitimacy. He calls for an immediate correction to avoid any climate of tension in the run-up to the 2026 elections.
A nuanced view of Patrice Talon’s governance
Questioned by viewers at the end of the show, Antoine Guédou-Vissétogbé also commented on President Talon’s governance. In his view, while the Head of State has succeeded in imposing budgetary discipline and a certain mastery of the security apparatus, there is still room for improvement in other areas.
” Between the aesthetics and cleanliness of the living environment, mastery of the army and performance in financial circles, he has scored two points out of three “, he concluded, acknowledging certain advances while reiterating the need for more inclusive and democratic management of the country.