Léon Theiller Onana, a member of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Rally (RDPC) and vocal critic of President Paul Biya, has denounced what he calls a campaign of “manipulation and destabilization” following his exclusion from the October 12 presidential election.
The Electoral Council (Elecam) recently released the provisional list of candidates, omitting Theiller, who had declared his intention to challenge Biya. In a statement issued on Sunday, Theiller acknowledged the rejection of his candidacy but vowed to continue his political struggle.
“In response to the circulation of a grotesque and disgraceful forged document attributed to me, I inform you that we have decided to act. I have instructed my counsel to initiate legal proceedings for identity and signature theft,” Theiller declared.
“This last-ditch maneuver does not surprise me. It complements the Electoral Council’s decision to reject my candidacy.
The work of the forgers and the blocking of institutions are two sides of the same coin to eliminate me politically. I acknowledge the rejection of my candidacy, but I firmly state: the fight for legality and justice continues. We will take all necessary legal action to ensure our voice is heard.”
Theiller, who has positioned himself as a voice for Cameroonian youth and reformists within the ruling party, condemned a falsified press release circulated in his name. He insisted that he would not abandon his cause despite mounting political and institutional challenges.
“I say it once again: I will never betray the Cameroonian people. Never, even under the guillotine, will I deny my fight. How could I ask forgiveness from a man who betrayed the ideals of rigor and moralization that he himself promised, and who is, in fact, politically irrelevant at 92 years old? To the youth of Cameroon, I say: stay awake, stay standing.
Don’t listen to their lies. We have a common goal, the liberation of our nation. We will not give up. The fight continues. We will win,” he declared.
Theiller’s statement underscores the deepening rift within the RDPC as tensions rise ahead of the election, where President Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for over four decades, is seeking yet another term.
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