Biya Convenes Presidential Elections for October 7, 2018

President Paul Biya on Monday July 9, 2018 issued a decree indicating that Presidential election will be held on October 7, 2018.

President Paul Biya, 85, who has been in power for close to 36 years has not announced whether he will run for a seventh re-election, but in May his party said he is the “natural” candidate of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement-CPDM.

“Paul Biya is our candidate in the next presidential election, given his eloquent record, his national and international credibility, diplomatic, economic, social and cultural”, leaders of the ruling party and traditional leaders from the South region is quoted to have declared in a motion.

Contrary to US ambassador to Cameroon Peter Henry Barlerin who said after a meeting with the president Paul Biya that (he) “should reflect on his legacy and how he wants to be remembered in history books”, CPDM militants and supporters say President Biya is a natural candidate., and best candidate.

Yet opposition parties continue to say the Biya regime has recorded more failures than successes.

President Biya is likely to face the following candidates , Joshua Osih, who was elected in February as candidate of the main opposition party, the Social Democratic Front (SDF, English-speaking).

Joshua, 49 is likely to challenge Biya in the polls after Ni John Fru Ndi, leader of the SDF and historical opponent to Biya decided to give way to the “young cadets” of the party.

Other prominent opposition candidates, according to analysts, include Transparency International lawyer and former vice president Akere Muna, as well as the president of the Mouvement pour la renaissance du Cameroun (MRC) party, Maurice Kamto.

On October 7, these candidates and more others will seek the 7 year mandate to run the affairs amidst restive crisis in North West and South West Regions.

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