Over four million voters will choose between two candidates - Yayi Boni and Adrien Houngbedji. Benin is considered one of the most democratic countries in West Africa but the electoral process has been criticised this time round.
Boni, a former head of the West African Development Bank who is a newcomer to the political scene, had finished well ahead of veteran politician, Houngbedji in a March 5, first round vote, but failed to gain the 50 percent required to win outright.
His chances of being elected to succeed long-serving President, Mathieu Kerekou, received a major boost on Friday, when three runners-up from the first round, who between them secured nearly 30 percent of the votes, told their supporters to back Boni.
After winning just over 35 percent of votes two weeks ago, Boni has also obtained public pledges of support from several others out of the 26 candidates who stood on March 5.
President Kerekou claimed the first round of the elections was not free and fair and then insisted the second round take place on Sunday.
The commission had asked - in vain - for the polls to be delayed until Wednesday.
The second round comes so soon after the results of the first round were announced that neither Mr. Boni nor Mr. Houngbedji had the time to campaign
“I’m not well, but I’ve come out to vote because I want things to change,” said one voter, Madeleine Zohoun, 50, wearing a blue traditional robe and headscarf.
Boni, who offers voters an alternative to the political establishment in Benin, appeared confident of victory.
“I’m inviting you to turn out to vote because this is a blessed day, a day for transparent and peaceful elections. Afterwards, naturally we can join forces to tackle the country’s development challenges,” he said as he voted.
Boni’s second round rival, Houngbedji, 64, is a former state prosecutor who walked out of Kerekou’s government in the late 1990s to mount an opposition challenge. He has stood unsuccessfully in three previous presidential elections.
Kerekou had denounced irregularities in the running of the first round vote, as did many candidates. But the country’s highest court said the first round results were fair.
“I call on the people of Benin to vote, each for his or her choice. People shouldn’t vote for money, but for the candidate the country needs. Anyone who votes for money will have sold out their country,” the outgoing president said as he cast his ballot.
Kerekou introduced multi-party politics in 1991 - Africa’s first military dictator to do so - but successive elections have been plagued by vote rigging claims.
He lost the first free election in 1991 but won power back five years later when his main opponent boycotted a run-off amid claims of fraud.