Kamto projects potential voters to hit 10 million mark in 2025.

Prof Kamto made the projection in a statement after the annual August 31 deadline for the registration of potential voters on the electoral register. The statement was made public September 1.

Despite congratulating Cameroonians and other stakeholders for sustaining the momentum recorded in 2024, Kamto said there is no room for a relapse.  According to the politician, there are possibilities of conquering new grounds in 2025 especially as more young people will be attaining the minimum age of 20.

According to Kamto, Cameroonians are known for their confidence and unbeatable spirit in achieving great heights in whatever they decide to do. 

He averred that: “Nothing defines Cameroonians better than their confidence in themselves, in their ability to rise to challenges, to triumph over situations thought to be lost”.

Inferring from difficult situations wherein the national football team, the Indomitable Lions have attained victory, Kamto argued that: “This is exactly what Cameroonians at home and abroad, have just shown by registering to vote”.

The massive mobilisation to enroll on the voters register, he added, demonstrates that “nothing can beat you, and that you will be the Indomitable Lions of the 2025 presidential election”. 

Narrowing down to stakeholders, he saluted the elections management body, Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, supporters of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, MRC, other political parties, religious leaders and civil society actors for working hard to ensure many people enrolled on the voter register.

“Well done to our people from all regions of the country and from all walks of life, who responded en masse to our call to do so,” the opposition politician said, adding that: “This citizen mobilisation must not lose steam”. 

All hands on deck for 2025

Irrespective of the flowers thrown at stakeholders for job well done in 2024, Kamto said more must be done beginning January 2025 to further boost voter registration.

“2024 was an extraordinary year for the voter registration campaign. Let's make 2025 an exceptional year in this respect. We absolutely must reach at least 10 million voters for the forthcoming elections in our country, in order to Change Cameroon in 2025 through the ballot box and in Peace,” Kamto further wrote.

ELECAM currently has a little over seven million potential voters on the electoral register. The figure could near eight million when it computes the figures recorded in the mad rush for enrollment at the close of August 31 as defined by law.

Kamto not giving up on running in 2025 presidentials 

Contrary to several analyses done in line with the law that shows it might be very difficult for Kamto to be candidate in the 2025 presidentials, the MRC leader seems to be thinking different.

Unlike President Paul Biya whom supporters are calling to seek re-election, Kamto is now left with either getting a platform that has at least one councillor or seek 300 signatures from specific personalities nationwide to end the contest, seems not disturbed. 

In his note of September 1, he signed it as Presidential candidate for the 2025 presidential election. To note that Kamto who pulled the MRC out of the February 9 2020 twin polls unexpectedly is in a tight corner as per the law to run in the 2025 presidential. 

Worst still, the National Assembly voted in June this year, approving a request from the executive to postpone municipal and parliamentary elections to 2026. Kamto now has to work extra hard to legally run for the office of president next year.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3220 of Thursday, September 5, 2024