Tchiroma declares victory in Cameroon presidential election
Cameroon’s opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has declared victory in the country’s October 12 presidential election, urging incumbent President Paul Biya to concede and “honour the truth of the ballot box.”
In a video posted on Facebook from his hometown of Garoua, Tchiroma said the people’s choice was “clear” and insisted that it must be respected. He promised to release regional breakdowns of results in the coming days.
As of now, official results have not been published. Elections Cameroon (Elecam) and the Constitutional Council are charged with validating and announcing the final outcome. The legal deadline for that is October 26.
The ruling party, Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), swiftly rejected Tchiroma’s claim, calling it a “grotesque hoax” and asserting that he had no official tabulated result from polling stations.
The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, also issued a stern warning against premature announcements of results, stating that only the Constitutional Council has authority to validate and declare the winner.
Tchiroma, aged 76, was once an ally of Biya and served in government roles before resigning earlier this year to challenge the long-time president. His campaign gained momentum from a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups.
Observers note that Biya, now 92, has been in power since 1982, and Cameroon’s political environment has long been criticized for limited transparency, weak opposition, and dominance of state institutions by the ruling party.
The coming days will be pivotal. If the Constitutional Council confirms Tchiroma’s claim, Cameroon could see its first change in the presidency in decades. If not, tensions may intensify as supporters on both sides contest legitimacy.
