After ELECAM: Presidential election comedy moves to Constitutional Council.

Two days after ELECAM published the list of 13 validated candidates on July 26, throwing out 70 files, many of those whom observers say, are simply playing to the gallery, have surprisingly seized the Constitutional Council.

The Guardian Post gathered that as at the deadline of midnight Monday, July 28, some 35 petitions had reached the secretariat of the institution.

The actions are in line with Section 129 of the Electoral Code, which gives a maximum of two days from the date of publication of the list of candidates for petitions to be filed.

But for complaints from political parties such as the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy, MANIDEM, that invested Prof Maurice Kamto, as aspirant for the election, many say most of the others are empty files from the same persons ELECAM’s Electoral Board threw into the trash bin.

It is reported that except for hand written applications as spelled out in Section 130 (1) of the Electoral Code, other requirements that suggest a petitioner means business, are said to be absent from many of the files deposited at the Constitutional Council.

Authoritative sources have hinted that, most of the aspirants who have seized the body simply registered their ordinary complaints without seeking legal counsel. 

Leaked justification on the failure of their candidacies at the level of ELECAM showed that most of the petitioners lacked basic documents.

Like it happened at the level of the Electoral Board of ELECAM, most of the petitions, is it already being said, would be simply thrown out. 

Unlike the 10 days provided for in Section 131 (1) for the Constitutional Council to rule on such petitions, political analysts say the institution will take less time, given that must of those seizing it are simply comedians. 

Given the dictate of Section 131 (1) of the Electoral Code, the Constitutional Council has up till August 7, 2025, to finish its work. The Section gives 10 days maximum for the organ to rule on complaints.

Pundits are deducing that the situation will be similar to that of the Electoral Board of ELECAM, that used four hours to go through the 83 files, whereas it had August 13 as the latest date to do so. This is going by Section 126 of the Electoral Code.

All eyes on MANIDEM, PCRN files

The interest of the public is gauged to be on the matters concerning MANIDEM and the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation, PCRN. 

Kamto is said to have been disqualified because according to ELECAM, another aspirant, Dieudonne Yebga, had submitted his file on the platform of the same political outfit.

MANIDEM has leadership issues with Anicet Ekane, who had been known as the party’s President, being challenged by Yebga. Yebga’s team too has also seized the Constitutional Council. 

The Court’s decision on who is the leader of MANIDEM will determine the fate of Kamto and Yebga vis-à-vis the October 12 election.

For the PCRN, the surprise is coming from retired administrator, Robert Kona, who, for several months, has been claiming to be the leader of the PCRN. 

Though ELECAM’s Electoral Board validated the candidacy of Hon Cabral Libii on the ticket of the PCRN, Kona is said to have seized the Constitutional Council, challenging the validation.

Kona is reported to be exploiting Section 126, on who is qualified to petition the Constitutional Council. 

Despite Cabral Libii’s three victories against Kona in different courts, the Constitutional Council’s ruling could also eliminate him from the race or reconfirm his validation as candidate.

Bad cases from jesters with empty files

Where the entertainment blurred in disgrace for Cameroon’s democracy will play out, observers are saying, will be when the eminent members of the Constitutional Council start reading the files. 

They are projected to come through empty files from people viewed as barely chasing the clouds.

A majority of those who did not survive the vetting of ELECAM’s Electoral Board, are said have carried the same files to the Council. 

It emerged from ELECAM that most of those barred from the race didn’t among other things produce the list of 300 signatures (as required by law for independent candidates); attestation of fiscal conformity; prove of payment of 30 million FCFA caution into the State treasury; declaration of profession; certificate of nationality among others. 

Many citizens are saying they are further shocked that some did not even enroll on the electoral roll.

With such a situation, it is being stated that when the Constitutional Council starts work, it will be a replay of aspirants granting interviews for the sake of just being in the media and gaining cheap popularity and nothing more.

Petitioners, prayers

Among the 35 complaints, three are from Bertin Kisop of the Cameroon Party for Social Justice, CPSJ. He has prayers against the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM; ELECAM and the Ministry of Territorial Administration, MINAT. In the third case, he is praying the Constitutional Council to recuse itself.

There is a complaint from an independent candidate, Bessiping, against MINAT and ELECAM. Andre Marie Dibamou of the Young Democrats of Cameroon, JDC, party is contesting the decision of ELECAM rejecting his candidacy. 

The same goes for CPDM Councillor, Theiler Onana Leon, against the CPDM, MINAT and ELECAM. Another CPDM supporter, Bello Yaya, is asking the Council to reject President Biya’s candidature.

Romanie Yie in his complaint against ELECAM, MINAT and UPC party wants the dismissal of aspirants under the party’s banner for lack of 300 required signatures. Gvet Jean of the MPCC request the end of the validation of candidacy.

Badio Ngono is praying the Council to validate his candidature while   Ndim Jacob Ngong, an independent aspirant has dropped but a letter of appeal. Muafo Grabriel on his part wants the Court to validate his file for the October poll.

Tonleu Matsa Jacques Marius also an independent candidate is complaining against MINAT and ELECAM. He wants the court to invalidate the decision of ELECAM to reject his candidacy file.

Ondoa Omgba Alfred like Ndim Jacob has also written a letter of appeal. Christiane Moulende under the banner of the Progressist Movement, MP party wants the invalidation of Hilaire Zipang’s candidature already approved by ELECAM on the ticket of the same party.

Bouba Michel of the CPDM rather has a complaint for the end of the regularization of a candidature. Eyem Eboko Pierre Joseph under the banner of the MPCN party has an axe to grind with ELECAM, MINAT and Shewa David Samuel. Shewa too has done same against Eboko.

Eboko is asking the Council to reinstate the aspirant of the MPCN party rejected by ELECAM on account of multiple names. UPC Secretary General, Pierre Balequel Nkot, an individual in his complaint is pleading with the Court to throw out the aspirants; Prof Jean Bahebeck, Abdouraman Baba and Yamb Ntimba Dominique for lack of authority to deposit their candidacy files in the name of the UPC. The trio also have complaints challenging the dismissal of his candidacy file.

Barrister Ntimbane Mbomo Benoit Christian who had declared interest in the race but withdrew is seeking the Council to declare null he resolution no.012/R/ELECAM/CE of 26 July 2025 of ELECAM’s Electoral Board publishing the list of Presidential candidates.

Abdou Wassiou of PRUP party and Fouda Essomba Vincent Sosthene are also blaming ELECAM and MINAT before the Constitutional Council for the rejection of their files. 

Romanie Yie wants the Council to permit him to complete his candidacy papers. Aboubakar Kamaldine Bello Yaya, who dropped his complaint at 11:59 P.M.  Monday wants his candidacy to be rehabilitated. 

There is a complaint from the Provisionary Directorate of the Cameroon National Salvation Front, FSNC, challenging the candidacy of the party’s President, former Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary. 

Independent aspirants Mbah Arnaud Mirly wants the court to reinstate him in the Presidential race while Fowe Alain Thiery, also an independent aspirant, wants his file to be re-examined. 

Aboubakary Sidiki is before the court seeking an end to all contestations of him being the aspirant of the MPSC party.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3519 of Wednesday July 30, 2025