Tchiroma Urges Protests Over Alleged Election Fraud as Cameroon Awaits Official Results

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government minister and presidential candidate, urged Cameroonians to protest if the Constitutional Council announces “falsified” results from the October 12 election, in which he claims victory with 54.8% of the vote over incumbent Paul Biya’s 31.3%. Authorities have banned public gatherings and restricted motorcycle taxi movements ahead of the official results due Monday. Biya’s ruling RDPC party dismissed Tchiroma’s claims as “a grotesque hoax” and said they were awaiting the official announcement.

Former government minister and presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary on Wednesday made a forceful call to Cameroonians to mobilize and protest if the Constitutional Council declares what he described as “falsified and distorted results” in the closely contested presidential election. Tchiroma’s statement comes amid mounting tensions following the October 12 vote, which pitted him against incumbent President Paul Biya, 92, who is seeking an unprecedented eighth term in office, aiming to extend his 43-year rule over the country. The political climate has been charged, with widespread public interest and increasing uncertainty over the legitimacy of the final results.

Tchiroma claims that, based on his own tally, he secured 54.8 percent of the vote, far ahead of Biya’s 31.3 percent. Since last week, his supporters have sporadically taken to the streets in various cities across the country, asserting what they consider a rightful victory in the election. These demonstrations, while largely peaceful, have heightened anxieties among authorities and the general public. In response, officials have implemented preventative measures, banning public gatherings and restricting the movement of motorcycle taxis in several urban centers. These steps are intended to maintain order and security as the nation awaits the official announcement of the election outcome, which is expected no later than Monday evening.

In a statement released late Wednesday, the president of the Constitutional Council confirmed that the official results of the October 12 presidential election will be formally announced on Monday, October 27, at 11 a.m. In a video message shared on his Facebook page, Tchiroma encouraged his supporters to “march for liberation and to claim our victory,” emphasizing the need for citizens to stand united “in peace and for the love of one's country.” He portrayed the movement not only as a political assertion but also as a moral and patriotic duty, calling for disciplined and peaceful participation in any demonstrations.

On the other hand, President Biya’s ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC), has strongly dismissed Tchiroma’s claims of victory. The party labeled them as “a grotesque hoax” and “an unacceptable fraud in a state of law,” insisting that such assertions are baseless and politically motivated. In an official statement, the RDPC stressed that its members and supporters were “calmly awaiting the official results” from the Constitutional Council, urging the public to exercise patience and respect the formal electoral process. The contrasting positions of the two candidates have deepened the political divide, raising concerns over potential unrest and the broader implications for Cameroon’s democratic institutions and stability in the coming days.

The coming days are likely to be critical, with Cameroonians closely watching developments as tensions remain high and the nation prepares for the Constitutional Council’s official declaration of the presidential election results.