Abubakar Hashim
Nine opposition parties contested the October 12, 2025 elections in Cameroon.
The leading opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 76, of the National Salvation of Cameroon FSNC, who declared himself as the winner with collated results, has, today, received congratulatory calls from 5 opposition candidates.
The 5 candidates include:
1. Akere Muna, 73, former AfDB technocrat, of the Universe Party
2. Cabral Libii, 45, seasoned journalist, of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation PCRN
3. Joshua Osijek, 56, of the Sicial Democratic Front SDF
4. Hermine Njoya, 56, the only woman, of the Union of Cameroon Party UCP
5. Bello Maigari, 78, of the National Union for Democracy and Progress NUDP. He is from Northern Cameroon, where there are routine violent terrorist attacks by Boko Haram. A long time ally to incumbent President Biya, but resigned recently as Tourism Minister.
The congratulatory calls by these five opposition candidates have strengthened Tchiroma’s stance of Victory.
However, the Constitutional Court, the statutory body that officially announces results, has put out a statement countering Tchiroma’s victory.
Cameroon, a cocoa and oil rich Central African country, has been faced with mounting economic challenges, peculiar with other African countries.
Incumbent President Paul Biya, 92, has been ruling through proxy. He spends most time in Switzerland, delegating presidential authority to Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, his closed confidant and Secretary General of the Presidency.
What will be the reaction of these opposition parties, when incumbent Biya, from all indications, will be announced winner in two weeks?
The outcome will be catastrophic, similar to what happened in 2018, when opposition candidate, Maurice Kamto, who declared himself winner, was arrested and imprisoned for treason.
Cameroon became independent from France in 1960. Paul Biya is the second civilian President in 1982, succeeding Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Since 1982, he has ruled for 43 years and will be 99 years old when he completes another seven years in power.
*Abubakar Hashim is TheNEWS West Africa Bureau Chief
Leave a Reply