October 12 poll: Group makes fresh call on opposition to pick consensus candidate.

In an open letter released recently, the group insisted that it was essential for opposition parties to immediately designate a consensus candidate to end Biya’s 42-year long rule.

In the document, the organisation stated that Cameroon is undergoing a political, social and moral crisis of unprecedented severity. 

The group said for more than forty years, the Biya regime has shut down institutions, stifled fundamental freedom and confiscated the future of millions of citizens.

They said despite repeated attempts, the opposition has come up against an electoral system that is opaque, biased and tailored to perpetuate the status quo. 

The group regretted that institutions that are supposed to guarantee the transparency and impartiality of the democratic process have been discredited by their submission to the central government.

The body noted that the English-speaking regions are plagued by chronic insecurity, fueled by a protracted armed conflict, while the north lives under the constant threat of terrorist incursions and economic despair.

Added to this, they said is a catastrophic economic situation, marked by endemic unemployment that particularly affects young people, who are condemned to wandering or exile due to a lack of prospects. 

They said road infrastructure is dilapidated, health facilities are inadequate and outdated, and the poor sanitary conditions in urban areas are evidence of the abandonment of basic public policies.

The group said the deleterious climate fuels mistrust, resignation and exasperation among the country's driving forces.

They were blunt that: “In this context, the presidential election of 12 October 2025 cannot be just another formality. It must mark a historic break, a civic awakening, a moment of truth when Cameroonians finally take back control of their own destinies”.

“We unequivocally affirm that the only issue at stake in this election is the departure of Paul Biya and his regime, because Cameroon cannot rebuild itself as long as this system remains in place,” the group added.

They were categorical that faced with the said emergency “we are making a solemn appeal to all the driving forces of the country: opposition political parties, civil society associations, traditional and religious authorities, intellectuals, artists, opinion leaders and the Cameroonian diaspora. The time for petty squabbles and personal ambitions is over; now is the time for unity and mobilisation”.

They insisted that “We must stand together, unite our voices and reject division: for it is only together that we can turn the page on the Biya regime and open a new chapter for a new Cameroon, free and just”.

They said in response to the historic urgency and challenges at hand, “we call on the entire Cameroonian opposition to immediately designate a consensus candidate capable of transcending partisan interests”. 

The said consensus candidate, the group stated must embody the desire for change expressed by the people. 

“This mission transcends personal ambitions and ego rivalries; unity is the only way to respond to the collective aspiration for change,” they noted.

“Once Paul Biya's regime is replaced, a transitional government will be established with the mission of restructuring the country in a spirit of national unity,” the group said, adding that: “Its main mandate will be to restore fundamental freedoms and undertake a thorough reform of state institutions in order to guarantee transparent and democratic governance”.

“At the same time, this government will be organising inclusive national sittings to resolve the Anglophone crisis once and for all and find lasting and consensual solutions. Finally, it will be preparing free and fair elections, ensuring the transition to a fully democratic regime and the restoration of power to the people,” they concluded.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3561 of Thursday September 11, 2025