By Synthia Lateu
With less than 24 hours before the deadline for the submission of candidacies on Monday, July 21, a total of 28 candidates have officially submitted their files to Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) as of July 19, 2025.
The race to the Unity Palace ahead of the October 12 presidential election is intensifying, with the candidate list featuring political heavyweights, new contenders, and a significant number of independents.
Several prominent political figures have entered the race, including the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Bello Bouba Maïgari, 78, a long-time ally of President Paul Biya, who is running under the UNDP in a move interpreted by many as a break from the regime. Another notable entry is Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the former Minister of Employment and Vocational Training and a close Biya ally, who has also filed his candidacy. He had earlier declared his intention to run, stating that he wants to “put an end to the old system.”
One of the most surprising candidacies is that of 92-year-old sitting President Paul Biya, who has been in power for nearly 43 years. His reelection bid puts to rest months of speculation about whether he would step down. His candidacy under the ruling CPDM was submitted in Yaoundé by Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency, and Jean Nkuete, Secretary General of the CPDM.
Opposition leader Maurice Kamto, who has emerged as the main challenger to the regime since 2018, in an unexpected move, officially submitted his candidacy under the banner of MANIDEM on Friday. Kamto confirmed he resigned from the CRM on June 25, 2025, and joined MANIDEM two days later on June 27. Until this point, the CRM had maintained the perception that Kamto, despite the party boycotting the 2020 municipal and legislative elections, could still represent it in the presidential race.
Another unexpected candidate is Din Din Ferdinand, known artistically as Papillon, who is also running in the October 2025 election.
Cabral Libii is back, this time under the PCRN banner, after his 2018 bid with Univers. Other returning candidates include Jean Blaise Gwet of the MPCC, Joshua Osih of the SDF, and Zeh Amvene Geneviève, one of several women contesting as independents.
Compared to 2018, the number of female candidates has increased, with at least five women having submitted their candidacy files so far, including Eliane Véronique Ebotouou and Dibamo Andrée Marie.
The race is also marked by a notable rise in independent candidacies, with over five individuals entering the contest without party affiliation.
Since the electoral body was convened on July 11, presidential hopefuls have been filing into ELECAM offices across the country, ahead of the crucial October 12, 2025, vote.
While 28 candidacies have been officially received so far, questions are emerging about the financial eligibility of several contenders. The required deposit of 30 million CFA francs has not yet been verified for many candidates. Also , Candidacies are being accepted without immediate scrutiny. A second-level commission will begin a thorough review after the July 21 deadline, and only then will non-compliant candidacies will be disqualified.
