Supporters of former Beninese National Assembly President Adrien Houngbédji have broken their silence in response to what they describe as verbal attacks targeting their leader.
In a statement issued on Thursday, April 17, 2025, the Deputy Secretary General of the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) strongly condemned what he called slander and verbal assaults directed at the president of their political party and former high-ranking state official.
In the statement, the party expressed “deep indignation” over remarks considered offensive and inappropriate, aimed at Mr. Houngbédji. The PRD was particularly alarmed by the fact that these attacks came from certain political figures, including members of the current government—even though the PRD is officially aligned with the ruling coalition.
The party denounced what it called a “verbal drift, unworthy of the moral and intellectual stature” required of those holding public office. The PRD called for democratic and respectful debate rather than inflammatory rhetoric.
According to the party, the recent statements made by Adrien Houngbédji—statements which have sparked this wave of criticism—were simply an expression of his commitment to peace, national unity, and the preservation of democratic values.
It is worth noting that the former speaker of the National Assembly has, on two separate occasions, publicly called for inclusive dialogue, the release of political prisoners, the return of exiles, and a revision of the electoral code ahead of the 2026 general elections. A stance that stands in stark contrast to that of the current ruling coalition.