By Synthia Lateu
Opposition leader and possible presidential candidate Maurice Kamto has firmly rejected any attempt to postpone Cameroon’s 2025 presidential election.
In a statement issued on June 16, Kamto declared that postponing the vote “would be nothing less than an electoral coup d’état and thus an attack on the Cameroonian people, which would automatically trigger their legitimate defence.”
The Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) leader further warned that “Some hardliners are considering postponing the presidential election scheduled for next October during the current parliamentary session in June.” He reminded those pushing such an agenda that Cameroon officially entered the 2025 presidential election period on Sunday, June 15. From that date until July 17 at the latest, the electorate may be convened in accordance with Article 86(2) of the Electoral Code, he said.
Kamto also condemned ELECAM’s refusal to publish the national electoral roll, as required by Article 80 of the Electoral Code, accusing the body of attempting to discourage Cameroonians from registering to vote.
According to Kamto, the ruling CPDM regime is increasingly alarmed by the public’s determination to bring about peaceful democratic change through the ballot box, particularly through the fight against electoral fraud.
The CPDM political leader stated, “knows it cannot win a transparent and free election in our country. Moreover, it is in a deadlock, unable as things stand to present either the outgoing President of the Republic or any other viable candidate for the upcoming election,” Kamto said .
He noted that the CPDM’s failure to hold its ordinary congress since September 16, 2016 has rendered the mandates of its national president and all governing bodies legally expired.
and all the CPDM’s governing bodies expired.
He also raised concerns about threats of a possible military coup in the event of a CRM victory. Kamto cited public remarks by some CPDM figures suggesting that the military could stage a coup if he were to win in 2025.
He argued that the popular success of his May 31 rally in Paris deeply unsettled the regime:
“Certain ministers abandoned their work, which we thought was absorbing, in favour of grotesque outbursts on social media.”
Kamto dismissed the regime’s reaction as demagogic and dishonest “The regime’s spin on this purely factual statement rings hollow and further exposes the CPDM’s troubled relationship with the truth.” he said.
Addressing his controversial position that he would protect President Biya and his family if he assumes power, Kamto defended his stance, saying nation-building requires restraint and reconciliation.
” Too much resentment has built up since the massacres of the UPCists, particularly from 1955 onwards, to the more recent ones in the English-speaking regions and the violence against CRM militants, for a patriotic Cameroonian leader who aspires to the heavy responsibility of leading the nation not to be concerned with appeasement or even healing the wounds of multiple memories. ” He said.
