A government spokesman said on Monday that the leader of Benin's largest opposition party and first female presidential candidate has been arrested and is accused of "planning to assassinate several political figures".

Reckya Madougou's candidacy for the presidential election on April 11 was rejected by the electoral commission on Thursday for failing to garner signatures of support from 16 mayors or MPs.

Many opposition figures are already in exile or barred from office in Benin, which critics say has veered into authoritarianism under President Patrice Talon.

Abdullahi Hassan reports.