In Cameroon, judges have officially rejected all calls to partially or fully cancel the recently held presidential election. The Constitutional Council has stated that the official results will be announced on Monday. This decision comes amidst widespread protests and allegations of irregularities, including ballot-stuffing, brought forward by opposition supporters.
The Constitutional Council addressed eight petitions submitted by various parties. However, they found the evidence of irregularities insufficient to warrant annulment, or that they lacked the jurisdiction to act on certain claims. This has prolonged the uncertainty surrounding the election’s outcome.
Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary has already declared himself the winner, a move that has been swiftly rejected by the camp of the incumbent, 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who is seeking another seven-year term. Biya, who has been in power for 43 years, conducted a minimal campaign, attending only one rally prior to the vote.
Tchiroma Bakary, a 76-year-old former government spokesman, chose not to submit his complaints to the Constitutional Council, citing that its judges were appointed by President Biya. Instead, he proclaimed himself the “legal and legitimate president.” He further claimed victory based on returns representing 80% of the electorate, stating he secured approximately 55% of the vote. Bakary warned that if falsified results were announced, the council would be complicit in a “breach of trust,” adding that the people might feel compelled to “take their destiny into their own hands.”
President Biya’s ruling party has dismissed Bakary’s claims as illegal, emphasizing that only the Constitutional Council has the authority to declare official results. The influential Catholic Church has also appealed to the judges to ensure the verdict accurately reflects the voters’ will.
The escalating tensions have raised concerns about potential post-election violence, particularly given the country’s existing challenges with a separatist conflict in its Anglophone regions and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North.