October 12 poll: Time for Kamto to make history!.

But various national and international media organs reported that the regime has done everything, including an amendment of the electoral law, to eliminate Kamto, from the race at a time public opinion in the country has been vouching for change.

Why change? Because Cameroon is grappling with deep political divisions, mounting insecurity, and economic challenges.

 On July 13, 2025, President Biya announced his intent to run as the presidential flag-bearer of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM, for an astronomical eighth term.

"I am a candidate in the presidential election of October 12, 2025," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), and added that: "Rest assured, my determination to serve you matches the gravity of the challenges we face". 

The "gravity of challenges" are glaring. For eight years, Cameroon has been engulfed in a bloody separatist insurgency in the North West and South West Regions, fuelled by deep-seated grievances over marginalisation in all facets of public life and infrastructure.       

The crisis, as reported by human rights watchers, has left "thousands dead and by 2024, more than one million Cameroonians were displaced. The same year, nearly three million people faced acute food insecurity due to years of conflict, displacement, and climate shocks”.

"With Cameroon ranked among the world's poorest nations and weighed down by systemic corruption, insecurity, and economic stagnation, many are left questioning what new vision, if any, Biya offers after 43 years in power," some pundits have noted. 

Kamto has been perceived, rightly or wrongly, as an incarnate of change and solution to the looming challenges.

But he has been restricted by an electoral provision of candidates whose parties have at least a representative in municipal councils, parliament or senate. He maneuvred to scale through the provision by being invested by MANIDEM.

He was rejected by Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, because Dieudonne Yebga surfaced from nowhere, claiming to be leader of MANEDEM, to deposit his own file.

"Our file is complete; only the issue of multiple candidates was raised by ELECAM. I count on you to make a fair decision, in accordance with the law and the interests of the Republic, and not just for the sake of form," Maurice Kamto declared on Monday before the Constitutional Council, which was listening to petitions from aspirants whose candidacies were rejected by ELECAM.

But the verdict of that submission at the Constitutional Council was a foregone conclusion, even before it was officially announced on Tuesday, just as his elimination by ELECAM was already in the media before the official declaration of the initial 13 successful candidates.

A statement by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, warning against any violence after the Constitutional Council judgment, was indicative of the outcome, given especially the heightened tension.

The official verdict was as predicted. In three short minutes, the Constitutional Council judges dismissed the four hour arguments by a battery of lawyers that presented Kamto's appeal. 

Kamto's defeat in the various stages of his attempt for a candidate that was second at the last presidential election portrays a CPDM one horse race.

It is good riddance to bad rubbish for his opponents and even adversaries who mocked him as the Pope of Law. But "some disappointments are often a blessing in disguise", as the adage goes.

Kamto's candidature would have divided the opposition votes. The defeat has rather than dampened his political clout, reinforced and fortified it.

He should, as The Guardian Post has advised before, use it to make a legacy for himself, democracy and the millions of Cameroonians who crave for change after over four decades of leadership by a 92-year-old incumbent who should, as many have articulated, deserve honourable retirement.

Kamto should emulate the example of Senegal, join the alliance of Foumban and back the candidature of Batonnier Akere Muna, a legal mind like him.

With Kamto on the campaign trail of Akere Muna, change could come, and he shall get the credit. He can do it with the crowds that he magnates and he should.

On victory, they will change the electoral law which has been criticised by elections observers as favouring candidates of the ruling party, enforce Article 66 of the Constitution on declaration of assets to curb pervasive corruption that has been the nexus of the CPDM regime and brewing mountains of challenges to which President Biya has conceded exists. 

And if they could not be resolved in over 43 years, what's the assurance that in seven years and with age not on his side to reinvigorate the vigour and rigouur he introduced in his prime, shall be resolved in the next seven years? The electorate should provide the answer in an election without traces of rigging.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3526 of Thursday August 07, 2025.