2025 presidentials: UPC divided over Biya, Akere Muna candidatures.

The division within the party over who, between Biya and Akere to support, erupted on September 28. It came after a coalition of political parties, among them UPC and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, staged a meeting in Yaounde and endorsed Barrister Akere Muna to run for the office of President of the Republic, next year.

As news of massive support for Akere Muna swept across the nation, former Member of Parliament, MP, Robert Bapoh Lipot, issued a statement, indicating that the UPC is ready to support President Paul Biya in the upcoming election.

His position is contrary to that of a majority UPC supporters, who followed Pierre Balequel Nkot, embattled Secretary General of the historic party, to the Yaounde gathering that endorsed Akere Muna. 

Bapoh Lipot issued his release as Secretary General of the UPC. The varied positions within the party have left many within the political scene confused.

According to pundits, the battle within the UPC only tells of the complex animations that will feature the political atmosphere in the coming months. 

For some, the swift response from Bapoh Lipot to the huge endorsement of Akere Muna, by the Beleguel-led UPC faction, may not be unconnected to the massive presence of the party’s supporters at the Yaounde meeting.

Bapoh Lipot invokes UPC alliance with Biya

In his statement declaring support for the Head of State, ahead of next year’s poll, Bapoh Lipot invoked what he said is an alliance Biya entered with the UPC in 1992. 

He argued that the alliance was renewed five years later. He added that in keeping with the spirit of the founding fathers of the UPC, Biya has been working with the party.

Bapoh Lipot described Biya, who is yet to declare whether or not he will seek re-election, as the providential leader who has the experience required to lead Cameroon. 

He argued that Biya is very much attached to safeguarding Cameroon’s unity, in addition to the rich experience needed to handle challenges facing the country.

He claimed that the support of the other UPC faction to Akere Muna is an attempt to manipulate public opinion. 

Pro-Akere UPC faction justifies choice 

In declaring support for Akere Muna during the September 28 meeting, the UPC did not mince words. Speaking on behalf of the party, Habiba Issa, in the company of Pierre Balequel Nkot, said Akere Muna has all it takes to turn the fortunes of Cameroon around. 

“We are bringing shame to the African people. After 40 years, Cameroonians are living in misery. Let us choose a peaceful transition, free and transparent for an Anglophone candidate because two Francophone mandates are enough,” Habiba had remarked. 

In the face of calls for a change in leadership, Habiba, who was presented as President of the said UPC faction, averred that “citizens have the final word. We can decide our destiny. If we don't decide our destiny, politics will. Let's rise up”.

Which UPC faction has more weight?

Given the split already visible within the UPC as to who between Biya and Akere should enjoy the party’s support at next year’s presidential election, analysts are saying it may only boil down to figures.

With numbers being a key factor in politics, the weight of the different endorsements, pundits say, will only be felt in terms of how many UPC supporters vote for either Biya or Akere Muna on Election Day.

Some are already accusing Bapoh Lipot of failing to show his full strength. This category of persons argue that it is time for the former MP to start rallying members of his faction to speak instead of just issuing communiques alone and without their consent.

For one thing, the pro-Akere Muna faction of UPC, made a remarkable attendance in Yaounde, when CSOs and other political parties endorsed the former Bar Council boss and international lawyer to run for the office of President of the Republic. Officials had also declared that the faction that attended the meeting is the real UPC.

Political observers are unanimous that unlike the multitude of UPC supporters who turned out to declare their support for Akere Muna’s candidature, Bapoh Lipot staged a one man show on Cameroon Tribune; during which he restarted the party’s support for Biya, in next year’s presidential election.

A political observer who pleaded to stay anonymous said: “It is a scenario where one can be safe to say while UPC party supporters have declared their support for Akere Muna, the party’s scribe alone has opted to support President Biya”.  

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3249 of Friday October 04, 2024