Benin votes in presidential election with finance minister favored

Polling stations closed in Benin on Sunday as voters in the West African nation elected a new president, with Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni expected to emerge victorious.

Nearly eight million voters were eligible to cast ballots to choose a successor to Patrice Talon, Benin's outgoing president who is stepping down after serving two five-year terms. Talon, 67, is constitutionally barred from running for a third term. He survived a coup attempt in December.

Talon has endorsed Wadagni, 49, to lead the next government. In his previous role as finance minister, Wadagni oversaw a decade of consistent economic growth exceeding 6% annually. "We are going to move forward, go even further with what began before your very eyes," Wadagni told supporters in Cotonou, Benin's largest city, campaigning on continuing the nation's economic trajectory.

The main opposition party, the Democrats, is not fielding a candidate in the election.

Vote counting began late Sunday afternoon in Cotonou after polling stations closed. Provisional results are expected on Tuesday.

Turnout is expected to be a crucial factor for Wadagni, whose campaign has been affected by voter apathy. In Cotonou, Yvan Glidja, a man in his 30s, voted early at a school-turned-polling station for Wadagni, saying people "must vote" to ensure his victory.

In the district of Zongo, Talon was greeted by cheering supporters as he cast his ballot.