Motorcycle Riders at Forefront of Benin's Election Campaign
- Most of 33 candidates woo taxi driver unions to get votes
- Some of nation's wealthiest businessmen vie for presidency
This article is for subscribers only.
Basile Togbe’s yellow shirt instantly identifies him as one of tens of thousands of motorcycle taxi drivers that swarm the fume-filled streets of Benin’s commercial capital, Cotonou. Now he’s on the front line of campaign efforts for the March 6 presidential election.
Today his shirt shows the portrait of Abdoulaye Bio Tchane, a former finance minister. Tomorrow, he’ll advertise a different hopeful among the 33 men and women, including some of Benin’s wealthiest people, seeking to replace President Thomas Yayi Boni. Tobge says he can earn as much as 5,000 CFA francs ($8.45) by joining the convoy of a presidential candidate for a day.