Thomas Boni Yayi is stepping down as leader in the West African nation of 10.6 million people after two terms, BBC online reports Monday.
The ruling party's candidate is Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou, who used to head France's largest investment bank.
Benin's electoral commission is yet to start publishing official results, but local media reported that Mr Zinsou would probably go to a run-off.
They said that he would compete against businessman Patrice Talon.
Official results are expected on Tuesday.
Mr Zinsou, who is Franco-Beninese, is considered as "France's candidate" by his detractors, RFI reports. Benin gained independence from France in 1960.
Job creation and anti-corruption drives are two of the main promises made by candidates.
Benin's constitution barred Mr Boni Yayi from seeking a third term, although he had tentatively sought changes to the text allowing him to do so.
The rulers of other African countries such as Burundi, Rwanda and Congo-Brazzaville have recently changed their constitutions to allow third terms, BBC notes.
Her dav. udviklingsminister Søren Pinds (V) begrundelse i 2010 for at lukke bistanden ned til Benin, Zambia og Cambodja – se
http://um.dk/da/news/newsdisplaypage/?newsID=5AF196C1-D011-4AB6-983B-5B668434DA39
Se meget mere om Benin på https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin
