Benin postpones presidential election amid papers row
Constitutional Court halts Feb. 28 contest after millions of voting cards remain undistributed
COTONOU, Benin
Voting in the first round of Benin’s presidential election has been postponed amid a row about voters' papers.
The country’s Constitutional Court ruled late on Thursday that the Feb. 28 contest will now be held on March 6.
The delay is being blamed on a hitch in delivering 4.6 million voters’ election cards.
Opposition candidates had complained about the delay, calling for a postponement.
Beninese voters will go to the polls on March 6 to designate their new president from among 33 candidates, including incumbent ruler Thomas Boni Yayi who is seeking a third term in office.