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.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
