Dahomeyan Unity Party
{{Infobox political party
| name = Dahomeyan Unity Party
| native_name = Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité
| colorcode = #D2691E
| logo =
| leader =
| headquarters = Porto-Novo, Dahomey
| foundation = 13 November 1960
| dissolution = 13 November 1963
| merger = Republican Party of Dahomey
Dahomeyan Democratic Rally
National Liberation Movement
| ideology = African nationalism
African socialism
Republicanism
| position =
| country = Benin
}}
{{Politics of Benin}}
The Dahomeyan Unity Party ({{langx|fr|Parti Dahoméen de l'Unité}}, PDU) was a political party in the Republic of Dahomey.
History
The party was established on 13 November 1960{{Cite magazine|date=3 September 1963|title=President Maga inaugurates PDU congress|magazine=Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts|issue=171|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6WyjgxrPHKcC&pg=PA1|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|page=I1}} by the merger of the Republican Party of Dahomey (PRD) led by Sourou-Migan Apithy, the Dahomeyan Democratic Rally (RDD) led by Hubert Maga and the National Liberation Movement (MLN) led by Jean Pliya and Albert Teveodjré.Mathurin C Houngnikpo & Samuel Decalo (2012) Historical Dictionary of Benin, Scarecrow Press, p285 The PRD and the RDD had previously merged in 1958 to form the Dahomeyan Progressive Party, but had split the following year. Chabi Mama became the new party's secretary general.Houngnikpo & Decalo, p283
Changes to the electoral system made by Maga allowed the PDU to win all 60 seats in the Dahomeyan parliamentary election, 1960. The following year, the main opposition party, the Dahomeyan Democratic Union, was banned and its leader Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin imprisoned.Dictionary of African Biography, Oxford University Press, p139 As a result, the PDU became the sole legal party in the country.Houngnikpo & Decalo, p287
The party was dissolved on 13 November 1963{{cite act|legislature=The Presidency of the Republic of Dahomey|type=Ordonnance|index=1963-12|date=13 November 1963|title=Décret portant dissolution des partis et formations politiques|url=https://sgg.gouv.bj/doc/ordonnance-1963-12|language=fr|access-date=12 December 2021}} by Christophe Soglo after Hubert Maga was overthrown in a coup, and a new party, the Dahomeyan Democratic Party was formed by Apithy and Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin.