In a bold and potentially game-changing move, Cameroon’s opposition leader, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has declared himself the winner of the October 12 presidential election, challenging the 43-year reign of incumbent President Paul Biya. But here’s where it gets controversial: Tchiroma’s claim comes before the official results are announced by Elecam, the Cameroonian electoral commission, which is expected to validate and release them by October 26 at the latest. In a video statement on Facebook, Tchiroma, with the national flag as his backdrop, asserted, ‘Our victory is clear, it must be respected.’ He then directly addressed the 92-year-old Biya, urging him to ‘show greatness and honor the truth of the ballot box’ by conceding defeat with a congratulatory phone call. This gesture, Tchiroma argued, would demonstrate the political maturity of Cameroon and strengthen its democratic future.
And this is the part most people miss: While supporters on both sides are already claiming victory based on tally sheets circulating on social media, it’s illegal to announce the overall election result before the constitutional council’s validation. ‘This is the red line that must not be crossed,’ warned Paul Atanga Nji, the territorial administration minister. The election, contested by nine opposition candidates in a single-round format, saw more than 8 million citizens eligible to vote, though turnout remains unclear. Some candidates have already congratulated Tchiroma, signaling a potential shift in the political landscape.
Tchiroma, 76, a former Biya ally and government spokesperson, broke ranks in June by resigning and emerged as the leading opposition figure. Heading the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC) and backed by the Union for Change, he declared in an open letter, ‘A country cannot exist in the service of one man; it must live in the service of its people.’ His manifesto promises a three- to five-year transition period to rebuild the nation, which he claims Biya has destroyed.
Here’s the controversial twist: This isn’t the first time an opposition leader has declared victory prematurely. In 2018, Maurice Kamto did the same, only to be arrested, with his supporters met with teargas, water cannons, and detentions. Some remain in jail to this day. Biya, who has ruled Cameroon with an iron fist since 1982, is only the second head of state since independence from France in 1960. His governance has been marked by political repression, economic disparity, and separatist violence, with reports suggesting he often governs in absentia, partly from Switzerland, where he and his wife frequently stay. Presidential decrees are allegedly signed on his behalf by Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the secretary general of the presidency.
Tchiroma’s journey is equally compelling. Born in Garoua, northern Cameroon, he was once imprisoned for his alleged role in a 1984 coup attempt against Biya. Later, he became a minister but revealed in a pre-election interview that in two decades in office, he never met the president face-to-face. Now, the question remains: Will Tchiroma’s bold claim spark a peaceful transition or deepen political tensions? What do you think? Is Cameroon ready for change, or is Biya’s grip on power too strong to break? Let’s discuss in the comments!
