Cameroon Constitutional Council Dismisses Petitions Seeking Annulment of Presidential Election
The Constitutional Council of Cameroon has dismissed multiple petitions seeking the partial or total annulment of the 12 October presidential election, ruling that the applications were either unsupported by sufficient evidence of irregularities or fell outside its jurisdiction. The Council confirmed that the official results will be proclaimed on Monday.
The election has been marred by widespread protests across major cities, with opposition supporters alleging ballot-stuffing and other irregularities.
Among the petitioners was opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government spokesman who broke ranks with President Paul Biya. At 76, Tchiroma has declared himself the “legal and legitimate president”, claiming he secured 55% of the vote based on returns he said represented 80% of the electorate. He refused to lodge a formal complaint before the Constitutional Council, arguing that its judges—appointed by Biya—lacked independence.
President Paul Biya, aged 92 and in power for over four decades, is seeking another seven-year term. His ruling party has dismissed Tchiroma’s self-declaration as unlawful, stressing that only the Constitutional Council has the constitutional mandate to proclaim results.
The Catholic Church has urged the Council to ensure that its verdict reflects the will of the people, amid fears of post-election violence in a country already grappling with separatist conflict in the Anglophone regions and Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North.
