Biya promulgates Constitution reintroducing Vice President post.

The strategic position returns to the country, over 50 years after it was scraped off in 1972; following the dismantling of the Federal Union.

The enactment of the law Tuesday, came days after Parliament, meeting in Congress, approved the draft bill.

The draft piece of legislation amending and supplementing certain Constitutional provisions, was voted by Parliament on April 4, 2026. 

A total of 223 lawmakers had taken part in the session. 205 of them voted in favour of the bill, while 16 voted against. There were two absences.

Meanwhile, as per the new Constitution enacted yesterday by the Head of State, the term of office of the Vice President may not exceed that of the President.

The new legal instrument stipulates that: “Where the office of the President of the Republic becomes vacant, as a result of death, resignation or permanent incapacity duly ascertained by the Constitutional Council, the Vice President shall complete the term of office of the President of the Republic”.

“Where the Vice President is also unable to perform the duties of the office, polls shall be organised to elect a new President of the Republic, not less than 20 days and not more than 120 days after notification of the vacancy,” the new Constitution adds.

It further specifies that: “In the case referred to… above, the President of the Senate shall as of right act as Interim President of the Republic, until a new President is elected. Where the latter is unable to exercise such powers, they shall be exercised by his vice, following the order of the precedence in the Senate”.

“The Interim President of the Republic may neither amend the Constitution nor the composition of the government. He may not organise a referendum or run for the office of President of the Republic. However, in the case of necessity, related to the organisation of Presidential election, the Interim President of the Republic may, upon consultation with the Constitutional Council, reshuffle the government,” it added.

“In cases referred to in Article 6…, the Vice President shall take the oath of office as soon as the vacancy is notified, under the terms and conditions laid down by the law. He shall assume office once he has been sworn-in,” the piece of legislation continues.

Besides enacting the revised Constitution, President Biya, yesterday, also promulgated into law, certain amended provisions of the country’s Electoral Code.

The amended provision relates to Article 170 of the 2012 Electoral Code.

The now enacted bill grants the President of the Republic greater flexibility to extend or shorten the term of office of municipal councillors.

Yesterday, Biya had also promulgated a bill to amend and supplement specific provisions of Law No. 2004/4 of April 21, 2004, which governs the organisation and functioning of the Constitutional Council, as previously amended by Law No. 2012/12 of December 21, 2012.

The draft bill was adopted at the National Assembly on April 6, 2026.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3761 of Wednesday April 15, 2026