Aspirants turn presidential race into comedy!.

Few hours to the Monday July 12 midnight deadline for the submission of candidacy files yesterday, the number of aspirants had crossed 50. 

The atmosphere across the country was also still indicative that the number of aspirants could further increase.

The persons whose name ELECAM had catalogued as having submitted files had set the polity in talking mood. 

The list shows a mix of who is who in the country’s political landscape and a variety of unknown persons.

While at a certain level, analysts say there is some seriousness, a majority of those who appeared on camera for the exercise, have been described as jesters. 

Political watchers say the outplay tells of the loose and porous nature of the country’s political setup and laws that give room for clowns to be joking with serious business.

Many say they have so far retained only the rented vehicles, broken shoes, poor dressing and uncoordinated press declarations from some of the aspirants. 

Since the electorate was convened, analysts are unanimous, many of those who have deposited their files don’t yet know the seriousness of the October 12 rendezvous.

How some of the aspirants reached ELECAM offices before discovering they didn’t have their National Identity Cards and other vital documents on them, it has been said, tells of how unserious they are. 

Many share the view that the jokers on the list of aspirants far outweigh those who have been labouring for years to contest the election for the highest office of the land. 

Beyond the rib-tickling nature of the exercise, critics are rather lampooning government for reducing such serious business to gutter level for political greenhorns, wet noses and ignoramuses to gain cheap publicity.

Others who say they are seeking to see things taken seriously aver that what has happened in the last 10 days is rather a ridicule to Cameroon’s budding democracy. Pundits have qualified it as an embarrassment that must not be allowed to play out in subsequent presidential elections. 

Extremists are even advancing that in subsequent presidential elections, any aspirant who shows up at ELECAM, without proof of having fulfilled all the requirements; including especially the 30 million required caution, should be levied a five-million FCFA fine, or made to serve a six-year jail term in default. 

The good, bad, ugly seeking to replace Biya

Besides the Head of State, Paul Biya, who has submitted his papers on the ticket of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, to succeed himself, there is Onana Leon Theiler. 

Onana has also deposited documents on the ticket of the same CPDM party. 

Others are: Kisob Bertin (currently serving a lengthy jail term in Kondengui) of the Cameroon Party for Social Justice, CPSJ; Muna Akere Tabeng of the UNIVERs Party; Kamgan-Tan Eric of Libération Démocratique pour le Changement Républicain Camerounais, LDCRC; Zeh Amvene Genevieve, an independent candidate; Gwet Jean of the Partiotic Movement for Change in Cameroon, PMCC.

There is also:  Bougha Hagbe of Mouvement Citoyen National Camerounais, MCNC; Djaouro Ruben under the banner of Parti National des Patriotes Camerounais, PNPC, Osih Joshua of the Social Democratic Front, SDF; Libi LI Ngue Cabral of the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation, PRCRN; Bello Bouba Maigari of the National Union for Democracy and Progess, UNDP; Prof Maurice Kamto of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy, MANIDEM.

Meanwhile, Choupo Kamgaing Herve dropped his file as an independent candidate. Journalist Tuile Tuile Roger is also on the list of aspirants, with the party Debout le Cameroun. Among the few women who have also applied is Tomaino Ndam Njoya of the Cameroon Democratic Union, CDU.

The Union of African Populations, UPA, has as its aspirant, Simo Mambou Isaac Merlin. Issa Tchiroma Bakary of the Cameroon National Salvation Front, FSNC, is in the race. Hie Cyriaques Clement is seeking to contest the election independently just like Noutcha Fosso Eric Ghislain

Abdou Wassou is using the platform of the Republican Pact for Unity and Progress, PRUP, to seek approval as a candidate. Fomo Ngota Jean-Marie deposited her documents on the platform of the Cameroon Renaissance Social Democratic party, RSDC. Ngwese Ekosso Prince Michael, also has his name of the list of aspirants with the United Socialist Democratic Party, USDP,

Tchawou Ngankam Honore is seeking to run independently. The same goes for Kamchi Kamtchi Paul Alain.

Ngangue Kamgang Magloire is aspiring to give  Biya a run for his money on the ticket of the Union pour le Changement Générationnel de Paradigme du Cameroun, UCGP; Nguedam Albert is on a similar assignment having been invested by  the Democratic Movement for Development Party.

Eliane Veronique Eboutou has written her name as a potential candidate too.  She is banking on the Participation Nationale pour une Action Citoyenne au Cameroun, PNACC, to run the race. 

The political party of Young Democrats of Cameroon, has as aspirant, Dibamou Andre Marie.

Former civil society actor-turned politician, Ateki Seta Caxton is the aspirant of the Liberal Alliance Party, PAL, of Celestin Bidzigui. Shewa David who lost the race for the post of chairman of the SDF months ago is also an aspirant.

He has deposited his documents on the platform of Patriotic Movement for a New Cameroon, PMNC. 

Din Din Ferdinand who is a popular musician known as Papillons, also dropped his documents with the backing of the party, Les Partisans.

Mbengono Zouame epse Nozie Ngono Guyleine and Reem Benjamin are seeking to run for the election independently. Eyenga Nkoumou Jean Jacques is also wearing the hat of an independent candidate, in the mix just like Mfoula Mfoula Credic Gael, Ndim Jacob Ngong, Daloutou Hamada and Ondoa Omgba Alfred.

Nkainmbi Promise Nkainmbi of Réconciliation Démocratique du Cameroun Uni is also another wonder in the political pack. He deposited his file at the same time declaring support for Biya and promising 10,000 votes to the incumbent.

Dzipan Hilarie Marcire  of the Progresssist Movement, MP;  kWemo Pierre of the United Socialist Movement, UMS and Motomba Serge Espoir of the United People for Social Renovation, PURS are also in the pot of aspirants.

Ndemanou Antoine De Padoue of the Rassemblement Du Peuple sans Frontière, RDPF-KUMSZE, joined the game yesterday.

The same goes for Ndjamo Djamen Celestin, of Alliance Patriotique et Républicaine du Cameroun, APAR.

Fouda Essomba Vincent Sosthene wants to run in the poll on the ticket of MCPSA, while Teuabou Andre dropped his file as a candidate of Parti Socialiste Populaire Camerounais, PSPC. As we went to took to press last night, more persons such as Alexis Bindowo, a graduate of the National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM, is also said to have dropped his candidacy papers under the banner of Save Cameroon Movement, MSC.

The oldest political party in the country, UPC, is also said to have seen several persons deposit files under its covering. Among the names cited were; surgeon Prof. Jean Bahebeck and Abdouraman Baba.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3511 of Tuesday July 22, 2025