Abuja - Nigeria — The ECOWAS Commission wishes to reiterate its satisfaction with the efforts made recently by the Benin Authorities, institutions in charge of the organization of elections and all other stakeholders in the country's presidential election, in ensuring a smooth and exemplary voting in a peaceful, fair and transparent electoral contest.

However, the Commission is compelled to express deep concern over the escalating tensions in some parts of the country after the announcement of the provisional results by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The Commission would therefore appeal to all presidential candidates and their followers to be gracious enough to abide by the results of the election and to direct all complaints through constitutional channels for immediate consideration.

The Commission wishes also to exhort leaders of the main political parties to do all in their power to resist the temptation to incite their followers into actions that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process. In this regard, the ECOWAS Commission calls on the entire political leadership of Benin to put the greater interest of the country above partisan and personal interests in order to preserve tolerance, peace and the traditional reputation of Benin as a mature and friendly democracy.