FILE PHOTO: President of Cameroon Paul Biya with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) attend a signing ceremony at The Great Hall Of The People in Beijing, China March 22, 2018. Lintao Zhang/Pool via Reuters/File Photo
Professor Aboya Manassé has stated with unwavering confidence that President Paul Biya will seek re-election in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October, declaring that the president’s candidacy is beyond question.
Speaking on Sunday, July 6, 2025, during the Canal Presse programme broadcast on Canal 2 International, the professor and member of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) dismissed any ambiguity surrounding Biya’s political intentions.
“Even God over there knows that the President of the Republic is a presidential candidate.
He is a candidate.
There’s not even a debate to be had about that.
He is a candidate. The President of the Republic has said so.
He doesn’t like theatrics, he doesn’t like agitation.
The timing for announcing his candidacy is known. Why do you want him to rush out and announce his candidacy?” said Professor Manassé.
Despite the absence of an official announcement, his remarks reflect the long-standing assumption among supporters that Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, will once again seek to extend his presidency.
Turning his attention to the political opposition, Professor Manassé remarked on the challenges of coalition-building among opposition parties, suggesting that internal rivalries would once again hinder any united front against the ruling party.
“For the rest, the opposition is free to organize itself around a single or consensus candidate. But I think the tradition will always be the same in the opposition.
There are parties that are jealous of their political strength, their gains on the ground, and who would not like to sell that out to the other parties in the big caravan.
If you observe political news for some time, it has always been like this: the parties meet. But we in the CPDM, we follow the news,” he said.
While speculation over Biya’s candidacy persists, the opposition continues to multiply its declarations of intent. Yet, with each passing election cycle, the fragmentation within opposition ranks has often played to the advantage of the incumbent party.
As the October election approaches, all eyes remain fixed on when — not if — Paul Biya will make his candidacy official.
Professor Aboya Manassé has stated with unwavering confidence that President Paul Biya will seek re-election in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October, declaring that the president’s candidacy is beyond question.
Speaking on Sunday, July 6, 2025, during the Canal Presse programme broadcast on Canal 2 International, the professor and member of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) dismissed any ambiguity surrounding Biya’s political intentions.
“Even God over there knows that the President of the Republic is a presidential candidate. He is a candidate. There’s not even a debate to be had about that. He is a candidate.
The President of the Republic has said so. He doesn’t like theatrics, he doesn’t like agitation. The timing for announcing his candidacy is known.
Why do you want him to rush out and announce his candidacy?” said Professor Manassé.
Despite the absence of an official announcement, his remarks reflect the long-standing assumption among supporters that Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, will once again seek to extend his presidency.
Turning his attention to the political opposition, Professor Manassé remarked on the challenges of coalition-building among opposition parties, suggesting that internal rivalries would once again hinder any united front against the ruling party.
“For the rest, the opposition is free to organize itself around a single or consensus candidate. But I think the tradition will always be the same in the opposition.
There are parties that are jealous of their political strength, their gains on the ground, and who would not like to sell that out to the other parties in the big caravan.
If you observe political news for some time, it has always been like this: the parties meet. But we in the CPDM, we follow the news,” he said.
While speculation over Biya’s candidacy persists, the opposition continues to multiply its declarations of intent.
Yet, with each passing election cycle, the fragmentation within opposition ranks has often played to the advantage of the incumbent party.
As the October election approaches, all eyes remain fixed on when — not if — Paul Biya will make his candidacy official.
About The Author
