October poll: Kamto the Maradona!.

The MRC boycotted the 2020 municipal and legislative elections, citing government’s refusal to correct the flaws pointed out in the electoral law.

The law was amended later, not to ensure a level playing field, but left no one in doubt that it was ingeniously crafted to block Kamto’s participation in the next election. 

A clause was inserted that only political parties that have at least a representative in a council, parliament or senate, would contest in a presidential race. 

Political pundits said it was targeted at Kamto, a constitutional law expert mocked by his adversaries as the Pope of Law. 

He, however, kept insisting that he would be a candidate for this October's election, come rain or shine.

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, in one of his outings, said without mincing words that those who boycotted the 2020 polls will never contest for the apex job this year. 

Even last week when he addressed Governors of all 10 Regions, in Yaounde, he reiterated: “I would like to be clear on this, and I say it with authority; the political party that boycotted the February 9, 2020 legislative and municipal dual polls cannot run for the 2025 presidential election”.

Barely a few days after that announcement by the MINAT boss, Kamto filed his application for the October election! That was last Friday, when he did so on the ticket of MANIDEM.

Prof Messanga Nyamding, an expelled top brass of the CPDM, but still a Biya loyalist, said "Maurice Kamto made a major political coup in seven points”.

"In fact, I predicted it in my upcoming 700-page book. First, his campaign is starting in Douala, where the authorities have chased him out of the city at least twice," Nyamding said.

Secondly he's "regaining part of the UPC and thirdly, he has played with the imperative mandate to ensure that the only elected representative of MANIDEM remains valid, even if he resigns. 

This is where he showed he's well-equipped in the law, because whether it's the Rector of the University of Douala or any other law professor, none, I mean none, saw this coming". 

The fourth point is that he "shuts Elimbi Lobé's mouth at his home in Dibombari; who had contested the leadership of MANIDEN".

The fifth point, according to Prof Messaga Nyamnding, is that "the MRC and other parties, in addition to the civil society, through the Alliance for Political Change, will constitute a very serious force that can defeat the CPDM".   

The Biya adherent concluded that "other opposition parties will join the APC and we won't say he's running with his [Bamileke] brother's party". 

While the "coup" is being cheered by numerous Cameroonians, the CPDM and its allies are not giving up in their war to prevent Kamto from running.

Grégoire Owona, Minister of Labour and Social Security and deputy Secretary General of the CPDM Central Committee, in his own comment, said: "Kamto-Ekane: their only point of convergence is violence and money. Total divergence of ideology! Unnatural alliance! Association of sh...when we, the little legal illiterates that we are, said that the MRC was not qualified to present a candidate, we were told that the Pope of Law knows everything and insisted that he would be presented by the MRC. Where are we today? Be careful, it's not over! Wait and see," Grégoire Owona wrote. 

Last June, he had also rubbished Maurice Kamto's rally in Paris, saying: "How pathetic was this rally, so highly publicised for months, where organisers announced that millions of Cameroonians from around the world would attend! The prestigious Place de la République didn't see the tens of millions of Cameroonians expected. Not even 5,000. It's even a good thing that Parisians were mobilising that same afternoon for the Champions League final in the surrounding bars and snack bars where we spent hours in peace. More football fans than potential voters". 

Joining the bandwagon is Jean de Dieu Momo, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Justice, who has, in his own comment, predicted that Kamto's file will be "rejected" because he certified his documents at the police, instead of at the Divisional Office.

Messaga Nyamndin, a professor of political science and Public Law, has, however, ridiculed Momo in a lengthy argument, backed by the electoral law and the constitution, that only independent candidates are required to legalise their documents at administrative office, while those nominated by a political party do so through a judicial police officer.

Keeping aside the legal gymnastics, the questions that keep begging for answers are: Is Kamto the only politician running for the presidency? Why don't those whose Kamto's candidacy burrow beneath their skin not talk about Cabral Libii, Osih Joshua, Akere Muna and some others, who have submitted their files to ELECAM ? If he is so inconsequential in a party that doesn't even have an elected representative, why has he become nemesis to some CPDM officials and allies?

Biya has consistently, in his 43 years of experience, said there should be a rich political debate, a free and peaceful election. Why should the debate be on excluding a candidate, rather than allowing the people from whom real power comes to decide?

Kamto should not be a nemesis. Shouldn't it be time for those concentrating on Kamto to defend the 43-year record of an incumbent at 92, whose regime is pregnant with challenges and accused of governing through proxy?

For a peaceful election, which is the prayer of all Cameroonians of goodwill and The Guardian Post, discussions should be on issues such as the economy, unemployment, inefficient infrastructure, corruption and violation of constitutional provision to declare assets.

Those are issues of concern to the electorate that should be in public debates and rallies when campaigns are announced, not a futile battle to exclude any contender for the Unity Palace stool.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3510 of Monday July 21, 2025