By Abubakar Hashim
The expected results of Cameroon’s presidential election are widely believed to favor incumbent Paul Biya.
However, there was mild drama yesterday when his closest rival, former spokesman and ally Issa Tchiroma Bakary, declared himself the winner.
The Constitutional Council, the body tasked with announcing official results, immediately countered his declaration, stating that collation of results was still ongoing and that the official outcome would be released in two weeks.
Paul Biya, the world’s oldest president, has been in power for 43 years. He first came to power in 1982, succeeding Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, who ruled from 1975 to 1982. During Ahidjo’s presidency, Biya served as his prime minister.
The current drama involving leading opposition figure, Tchiroma, a close ally of Biya for over 20 years, declaring himself president-elect, indicates that many Cameroonians are weary of Biya’s long rule in a country with weak institutions, particularly the electoral body and the judiciary.
When President Paul Biya is officially declared the winner for another seven-year term, he will rule until the age of 99.
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