Yaoundé, Cameroon (Abuja Affairs Blog) – Cameroon’s opposition leader, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 76, has declared himself the winner of the just-concluded October 2025 Presidential Election, challenging the long-standing rule of President Paul Biya, who has been in power for 43 years.
Bakary, who leads the Union for Change 2025, a coalition of over 50 political parties and civil society organisations, urged President Biya to “respect the will of the people” and step down peacefully.
“The people have spoken. I call on all Cameroonians to defend their vote and stay mobilized should Biya refuse to recognize the people’s choice,” Bakary stated during a press briefing in Yaoundé.
Preliminary results from polling units across major cities reportedly show Tchiroma leading in several key regions, giving him a strong chance to unseat the 92-year-old Paul Biya, the world’s longest-serving president.
Observers note that this election could mark a major political turning point in Cameroon, where decades of authoritarian rule, economic hardship, and youth dissatisfaction have sparked growing calls for change.
Despite Bakary’s declaration, the Electoral Commission has not yet released official results, while pro-Biya loyalists insist the incumbent remains in firm control.
Tensions are rising across the country as supporters of both camps await the official announcement amid reports of protests and increased security deployments in major cities.
