By Ollus Ndomu
Cameroon’s opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared victory in the October 12 presidential election, urging long-time incumbent President Paul Biya to accept defeat and allow a peaceful transfer of power.
Tchiroma, 76, a former government minister who broke ranks with Biya earlier this year, made the announcement in Yaoundé on Saturday evening, saying early tallies from his campaign agents showed a “decisive and irreversible lead.” He was backed by a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups seeking to end Biya’s more than four decades of rule.
“I call on President Paul Biya to recognize the will of the Cameroonian people and to prepare for a democratic transition,” Tchiroma told reporters. “The time has come for our nation to open a new chapter built on unity and accountability.”
The government has not yet responded to Tchiroma’s claim. The Minister of Territorial Administration, who oversees elections, warned earlier in the week that only the Constitutional Council has the legal mandate to declare official results. The council has until October 26 to publish the final outcome.
President Biya, 92, is Africa’s longest-serving leader, having ruled Cameroon since 1982. His campaign has dismissed opposition claims of early victory as “premature and baseless,” while international observers have reported isolated incidents of irregularities but no large-scale disruptions.
As counting continues, tensions remain high in Yaoundé and other major cities. Security forces have been deployed near government buildings amid growing calls from civil society for transparency and restraint.
The coming days are expected to test Cameroon’s political stability and the resilience of its democratic institutions.
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