cameroon – Issa Tchiroma Bakary, presidential candidate of the National Front for the Salvation of Cameroon (FNSC), has publicly criticized the decision by Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) to bar opposition leader Maurice Kamto from contesting the October 12 presidential election.
Kamto, who was formally endorsed by Anicet Ekanè’s MANIDEM party, was among dozens of aspirants disqualified, leaving only 13 candidates cleared to participate from a total of 83 submissions.
The ruling, which sparked widespread debate, has been described by Tchiroma as unjust and damaging to Cameroon’s fragile democratic credibility.
In a statement released on Sunday, the former communications minister called on the Constitutional Council to reverse the decision and uphold Kamto’s right to run. He also extended an invitation to the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) leader to join forces with him in challenging President Paul Biya, who at 92 is seeking an eighth term after 43 years in power.
“Our political paths may diverge, but our common aspiration for fair justice unites us,” Tchiroma said, accusing the electoral body of undermining transparency while stopping short of fully discrediting ELECAM. He called for the full publication of the electoral lists, a rigorous audit of the electoral register, and the Constitutional Council’s strict impartiality in any appeals.
Tchiroma defended Kamto’s compliance with legal requirements, asserting that as a “world-class lawyer,” Kamto could not have submitted a flawed candidacy. “I am convinced that he had surrounded himself with all the legal guarantees,” he added.
In a rare display of political solidarity, Tchiroma stressed that “no one should be excluded from democratic competition other than by the sovereign will of the people.” His remarks contrast sharply with the silence of most other presidential contenders, many of whom have avoided confronting what critics describe as the state-backed sidelining of Kamto to secure Biya’s hold on power.
The exclusion of Kamto, a central opposition figure, has intensified concerns about the credibility of the upcoming polls, amid accusations that the Yaoundé establishment is determined to preserve its privileges by shielding an aging incumbent.
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