Cameroon Presidential Election 2025: The Candidates Disqualified by Elecam Leaves Open Question Mark Over the Participants in the Upcoming Election, With Maurice Kamto Being Among Those Removed from the Race
In the upcoming Cameroonian presidential election on October 12, incumbent President Paul Biya is set to run for another term, seeking a seventh consecutive mandate. However, several contenders have emerged, challenging Biya's long-standing rule.
One of these contenders is Akere Tabeng Muna, a lawyer by training and the founder of Transparency International Cameroon. Muna ran for President in the 2018 elections and later formed a coalition with another candidate, withdrawing his candidacy in their favour. Muna, who served as President of the Cameroon Bar Association, is also a member of the Governing Board of the Africa Governance Institute and the former President of the Pan African Lawyers Union.
Another notable contender is Joshua Osih, who joined the Social Democratic Front (SDF) in 1991 and has since risen through the ranks, serving as the 1st Vice Chairman of the party in 2012 and 2018. Osih, born in the South West region of Cameroon in 1968, was selected as the SDF's presidential candidate during the party's 2018 Extra-ordinary convention.
Cabral Libii, born in 1980 in the Central Region, is another candidate vying for the presidency. Libii, who declared his candidacy for the 2018 presidential election, received 6.28% of the votes, placing him in third position. In 2019, he joined the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN) and was appointed as head of the party. Libii's campaign includes the "11 Million Registered Voters" initiative.
However, critics argue that plans have been made to exclude Maurice Kamto, who came in second in the 2018 presidential polls, from challenging Biya in this year's election. Other candidates, including Libii and Osih, have also been excluded by the Electoral Commission.
Aspirants who have been disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a petition with the Constitutional Council. The outcome of these petitions could potentially reshape the landscape of the upcoming election.
Paul Biya, who has been in power since November 6, 1982, for a total of 43 years, has rejected calls to step down, stating that he still has a lot to offer Cameroonians. Biya served under the government of former President Ahmadou Ahidjo before taking over power following Ahidjo's resignation in 1982.
In the municipal and legislative elections on February 9, 2020, Libii was elected as a Member of Parliament, along with four other party members. The election results will likely have an impact on the upcoming presidential election, as party affiliations and alliances continue to evolve.
As the election date approaches, the political landscape in Cameroon remains dynamic, with the contestants and their supporters gearing up for a heated campaign. The outcome of the election could mark a significant shift in Cameroon's political history.
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