Issa Tchiroma Bakary Declares Victory in Cameroon Presidential Election, Urges Paul Biya to Concede.
Cameroon’s opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared himself the winner of the country’s presidential election, urging long-serving President Paul Biya to concede defeat even as official results are still pending from the Constitutional Council.
Addressing journalists in Yaoundé on Tuesday evening, Bakary, the leader of the National Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ANDP), claimed that preliminary tallies from his party’s agents across the country showed a “clear and irreversible victory” in his favor.
“The people of Cameroon have spoken through the ballot,” Bakary said. “It is now time for President Biya to accept the will of the people and allow a peaceful transition of power.”
The announcement comes just days after millions of Cameroonians cast their votes in a highly charged election held on October 12, 2025. The poll featured multiple opposition candidates but was largely seen as a two-horse race between Bakary and President Biya, who has ruled the Central African nation for over four decades.
The Electoral Commission (ELECAM) has not yet released official figures, saying it is still compiling results from all 10 regions. According to the constitution, the Constitutional Council is expected to announce the final results within 15 days of the vote.
Government officials have dismissed Bakary’s self-declaration as “premature and irresponsible,” warning political actors against making statements that could inflame tensions. “Cameroonians must remain calm and wait for the Constitutional Council to announce the official results,” said government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi in a brief statement.
Meanwhile, supporters of Bakary took to the streets of Garoua and Maroua in northern Cameroon on Tuesday night, waving party flags and chanting slogans celebrating what they called “the dawn of change.” Security forces were deployed in several major cities, including Douala and Yaoundé, to maintain order as tension builds across the nation.
Regional and international observers, including delegations from the African Union and the European Union, have urged restraint from all sides, emphasizing the need to respect constitutional procedures and ensure transparency in the final vote tally.
President Paul Biya, 92, who has led Cameroon since 1982, has not made any public appearance or statement since the opposition’s declaration. Analysts say the standoff could test the stability of the country, which has faced periodic unrest and separatist tensions in recent years.
“This election marks a defining moment for Cameroon’s democracy,” said political analyst Dr. Francis Nkembe. “The credibility of the process now depends on how both the ruling party and opposition handle the coming days.”
As the nation awaits official results, the spotlight remains on the Constitutional Council, which has the final authority to confirm and declare the legitimate winner of the presidential race.
