SDF doesn't need alliance to unseat Biya - Osih.

The politician who is also National Chairman of the SDF, stated this at a press conference in Yaounde Tuesday.

The Member of Parliament was speaking while fielding questions from newsmen, shortly after unveiling his ambitious 146-page presidential programme.

During the presser, attended by over a hundred journalists, Osih Joshua didn’t mince words on SDF’s position on the various alliances in gestation ahead of the October 12 election.

The lawmaker, who made his first attempt for the country’s top job in 2018, said the SDF has laid a solid foundation to secure victory at the October election.

He described claims of the opposition being unable to unseat Biya without an alliance, as mere distractions. 

Osih posited that such narratives are the handiworks of the Biya regime, before calling on Cameroonians to vote massively at the October election.

The SDF national chieftain, was categorical that his party is against any such alliance, where a consensus leader will be imposed on the Cameroonian people.

He recounted that: “…when I was chosen by my party at the start of 2025, as candidate of the SDF during a congress, I was sent to win the presidential election”.

Commenting on why an alliance wasn’t an option for the SDF at the moment, Osih explained that: “If I choose not to be candidate, I need to convene another congress in my capacity as National Chairman of the SDF, to give the opportunity for delegates to choose another person. I am not the owner of this candidature. The SDF chose me; I am candidate of my party for this election right to the end”.

He was blunt that: “For me, the debate about alliance is a distraction. I am in for this election to win. We have decided to win this election. We are doing everything to win. We are doing everything to secure our votes. We started this initiative in the last two years. It is not possible to be distracted today with a narrative of an alliance, conceived on the corridors of the Unity Palace…with the notion that for the opposition to win, they must be together”.

SDF to restructure Cameroon

Earlier in presenting a summary of his programme, Hon Osih, representing Wouri Centre at the National Assembly, said, his programme is one capable of transforming the lives of Cameroonians, within his first mandate as Head of State.

He insisted that: “A presidential election should first and foremost be a debate about ideas, evidence and the ability to govern- clear proposals, credible mechanisms for implementation and tangible results for our fellow citizens”.

The SDF chieftain was quick to regret that “Yet, our national conversation too often goes astray”. 

He bemoaned the fact that Cameroonians discuss everything except the substance.

“We talk about an ‘opposition alliance’ without defining what a responsible opposition is; we elevate personalities-sometimes heavily compromised-instead of examining what they concretely propose. We slip into tribal affiliations and regional stereotypes, when the only criteria should be competence, integrity, political experience, the capacity to unite, to protect the vote and the coherence of a political platform,” he said.

He was categorical that Cameroon’s central problem is institutional. The 2018 presidential candidate cited a hyper-presidential constitution, which he said confiscates power and stifles local initiatives.

He said: “As if that were not enough, we are witnessing a form of predatory State capture”.

Osih then insisted power must be returned to the people, through a three-tier federal system; based on the principle of subsidiarity and adopt a semi-parliamentary system to rebalance powers, hold the executive accountable and revitalise democratic oversight.

He was clear that: “…our compass is the Republic, not the throne. Our opponent is the system that has failed and our objective is to put Cameroon back on the path to emergence, without sacrificing national cohesion. We remain open to all who wish to unite around a serious, measurable and inclusive project”.

“Cameroon is not condemned to collapse. What we need is a clear social contract, institutions that are accountable and an economic strategy that creates value here-by our talents and for our territories. That is the meaning of our project: to return power to the people, secure peace and deliver measurable results in our daily lives,” he added.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3539 of Wednesday August 20, 2025