At campaign in Douala: Tomaino Ndam Njoya drums vote for change, chance for woman to lead.

She was speaking before huge crowds in Douala on Saturday, October 4. This was during a vibrant campaign rally held at the Akwa Banquet Hall esplanade.

Tomaino called on Cameroonians, especially women and youth, to rise for change and “give the woman a chance to govern and free Cameroon”. The presidential hopeful said her message was not just political, but deeply patriotic and moral.

“If women are never allowed to rise to the summit of leadership, we will remain in misery,” she declared to loud applause. 

“The time has come for women to take their rightful share in building the new Cameroon. Without the woman, there is no nation,” she stated.  

She painted a picture of a nation “on life support”, urging citizens to reclaim their sovereignty through the ballot box.

“The Cameroon of today is a country gasping for breath between life and death,” she said. 

“We cannot continue like this. The solution lies in associating the woman — the mother, the caregiver, the one who feeds and raises the nation,” she stated. 

To prioritise women empowerment 

Tomaino emphasised that her leadership would prioritise women empowerment, social inclusion, and moral governance, pledging to bring compassion and discipline back to public office.

“We want peace, but peace is not just the absence of war,” she told the cheering crowd. 

“How can there be peace when you don’t know if your children will eat, go to school, or have electricity and water tomorrow? True peace begins with justice, opportunity, and dignity,” she said

Concerning the worrisome situation faced by the two English-speaking Regions, the CDU president declared that President Biya “was wrong to have declared war on the Anglophones as a means to resolve the crisis”. This, she said, had been the reason of the death of thousands of Cameroonians, both soldiers and separatists alike. 

However, she promised to bring a lasting solution if elected, free all war prisoners, people who have been incarcerated due to their opinions.

Vision of democratic renewal

Tomaino reaffirmed her belief in a democratic, republican, and patriotic Cameroon, urging voters to stand firm against fear and manipulation.

“We are citizens, patriots, and republicans. In a republic, power is not hereditary; it must be shared and renewed. The people must take back what belongs to them, their country,” she said.

She vowed to uphold the rule of law, ensure transparent governance, and apply constitutional provisions requiring public officials to declare their assets.

“We will clean up the Constitution, free political prisoners, and restore equality among all Cameroonians,” she noted. 

Amid chants of “La bonne étoile du Cameroun” or Cameroon’s good star, the UDC standard-bearer promised to govern with humility and to step down at the end of her mandate. 

“When my time is done, I will return home with pride, knowing that together, we opened a new chapter for Cameroon,” she added. 

Allied parties, movements join call for change

Several allied political movements and civil society platforms formally declared their support for the UDC candidate at the rally, describing her as “the light Cameroon has been waiting for”. 

A spokesperson for one allied movement, Cameroon Front, Chantal Kambiwa, said their endorsement was rooted in shared values of justice, youth inclusion, and gender balance.

“When we examined her social governance programme, we found ourselves aligned on many points, especially her focus on youth employment, women’s participation, and inclusion of persons living with disabilities. Why should we not support her when she represents the future?” Kambiwa question.

She stated that she has decided to side with a female leader who is capable to liberate Cameroon.  Another party leader underscored the symbolic importance of electing a woman as president after six decades of male-dominated politics.

“For 56 years, men have held power in Cameroon. Where has that taken us? It is time to change the script. Democracy means the voice of the majority, and women are the majority. Let us make that voice count,” he said. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3586 of Monday October 06, 2025