Tens of thousands of supporters braved rain and an eight-hour wait on Sunday to hear presidential candidate and former minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary speak at the Omnisports Stadium in Douala.
The gathering, organised by the Cameroon National Salvation Front, showcased the candidate’s growing popularity in the economic capital.
“He is so beloved by the Cameroonian people, and I don’t think we’ve ever seen a crowd like the one today,” said supporter Mohamadou Hadji. “This is a great testament to the Cameroonian people’s support for Issa Tchiroma Bakary, to whom we promise a 100% victory on 12 October.”
Arriving amid cheering crowds, Tchiroma was met with a scene likened to a rockstar’s welcome. His campaign tour had previously taken him through the English-speaking cities of Buea and Limbé, and he made a point of addressing supporters along the route to Douala.
During the rally, Tchiroma directly addressed incumbent President Paul Biya, urging him to concede defeat on the night of the election. “You will call your opponent, who was chosen by the people, to say, ‘Mr. President, I concede defeat.
Congratulations, and today you will go down in history!’” he told the crowd.
For many attendees, the rally represented a historic moment, though they acknowledged that the outcome must be confirmed at the ballot box. “All we want is for us to all vote for the same person, to monitor our votes and check our ballots, so that on the evening of 12 October, we can proclaim our own victory, and that President Tchiroma becomes President of Cameroon,” said supporter Taddoum Moïse.
Tchiroma also addressed concerns over intimidation, warning the territorial administration, the electoral commission, and the Constitutional Council that his supporters would insist on a fair outcome. He underscored that any attempts to manipulate the election would be met with a determined response from the populace.
As Cameroon approaches the October 12 polls, Sunday’s rally in Douala has solidified Tchiroma Bakary’s image as a formidable contender, energising supporters and intensifying the political atmosphere in the lead-up to the vote.
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