Cameroon Presidential Election 2025: Disqualified Candidate Maurice Kamto Among Those Competing for Cameroon's Top Position, As Per Elecam's Decision

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In the upcoming presidential election on October 12, 2022, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) is expected to be the main contender, as no detailed information about other participating parties has been found in the search results. However, the field is not empty, with several notable candidates vying for the position.

One of the most prominent contenders is Joshua Osih, the presidential candidate for the Social Democratic Front (SDF). Osih, a popular entrepreneur, is the founder and managing director of Camport PLC and Africa Travel Management. He has been a member of the SDF since 1991 and has held various positions within the party, including regional chairman, 2nd Vice Chairman, and 1st Vice Chairman. He was selected as the party's presidential candidate during the 2018 Extra-ordinary convention of the party.

Osih is also a member of the Cameroon Parliament for the Wouri Centre constituency in Douala. He has served as both Vice President of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly, and Special Rapporteur for the National Assembly. Additionally, he holds an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability.

Another notable candidate is Akere Muna, a lawyer by training and a former President of Transparency International (TI) Cameroon. Muna, who is also a member of the Governing Board of the Africa Governance Institute, has served in various prestigious roles, including the President of the Pan African Lawyers Union from 2005-2014, the President of the Cameroon Bar Association, and a member of the independent High-Level Audit Panel of the African Union for 2007-2008. Muna was also elected to the Panel of Eminent Persons to oversee the African Peer Review Mechanism in January 2010, and later became the Chairperson of the panel until the end of his tenure in 2014.

The current President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, is also running for re-election. Biya, who is considered the favorite to win the October election, has been in power for the past 43 years, since November 6, 1982. He was born on February 13, 1933, in the village of Mvomeka'a, South region of Cameroon. Biya served under the government of the former President Ahmadou Ahidjo and held positions such as Director of Cabinet of the Minister of National Education, Youth Affairs and Culture, and later Director of the Civil Cabinet to the President. He also served as director of the Civil Cabinet and Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic in January 1968.

However, the election process has been marred by controversy. Opposition leader Maurice Kamto was excluded from the list of candidates for the presidential election. The reason for Kamto's exclusion is unclear, but it came after he announced his departure from the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party to join another party as a candidate. Critics argue that plans have been in place to exclude Kamto, who came second in the 2018 presidential polls, from challenging Biya in this year's election.

Aspiring candidates who have been disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a petition with the constitutional council. The list released by the electoral body on July 26, 2020, includes 13 out of the 83 candidates who declared their intention to run. Among the candidates on the list are Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, former allies of the president.

In conclusion, the Cameroonian presidential election on October 12, 2022, promises to be a significant event. While the CPDM is expected to be the main contender, several other notable candidates, including Joshua Osih and Akere Muna, are challenging the incumbent Paul Biya. However, the exclusion of opposition leader Maurice Kamto has sparked controversy and raised questions about the fairness of the election process.