Paul Biya, Archives
Some opposition parties have rejected the current wave of calls for President Biya to run for the upcoming presidential election in 2018.
They say they would not allow the ruling party to organise another electoral hold-up.
But observers hold that the parties have continued in dispersed ranks, making things much easier for the ruling party.
Apart from a coalition of three small parties that met in Yaounde recently, other opposition parties have chosen to counter the storm of the “CPDM People’s Call” individually.
After meeting in Yaounde, the Cameroon Peoples Party, CPP, of Kah Walla, the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy, MANIDEM, and one faction of the Union des Population du Cameroun, UPC, send an ultimatum to President Biya, warning him not to nurse any hopes of running at the next presidential race.
The parties described the numerous calls on t Biya to run the race as “a new attempt to perpetrate the rigging of elections and a new plan to mortgage the future of the Cameroonian people”.
Kah Walla condemned the calls for anticipated elections, saying it was total contempt of the sovereign will of the Cameroonian people.
The opposition parties observe that the CPDM and Biya are already in the murky waters of history for changing Article 6(2) of the Constitution in 2008, thereby abrogating term limit to make Biya an eternal President.
Such a shameful move, they went on, paved the way for the CPDM candidate to maintain the status quo at the helm of the state after the flawed 2011 presidential election.
The opposition parties hold that 2018 is the year of power change in Cameroon, warning that they would not allow anybody to tamper with such an opportunity.
“Enough is enough,” Kah Walla thundered.
For his part, the leader of one of the UPC factions, Alexis Ndema Same, said he and his militants were ready for any eventuality.
Hear him; “We say no and no to President Biya’s candidacy”.
Prior to this meeting, the National Union for Democracy and Progress, NUDP, through the voice of its National Youth President, Elvis Ndansi, ignited a media campaign that distances the party from the “calls of shame”.
He said the NUDP cannot be part of those who are trying to externalise Biya’s stay in power.
The leading opposition party, the SDF, has warned Biya to desist from calling any anticipated election.
The SDF Chairman, John Fru Ndi, warned that such a situation is likely to stir unrest in the country.
For his part, Prof. Maurice Kamto of the MRC is calling for the amendment of the electoral code to guarantee free and fair elections.
He is advocating a two-round presidential election and a single ballot paper, saying they are ingredients for free, fair and transparent elections.
Observers have expressed fears that the tiny voices of the opposition will not make any impact because the parties are operating in dispersed ranks.
“I know that after all the threats, the opposition party leaders will back down and later run the election race as individual candidates,” one commentator remarked.
As the opposition parties bark, CPDM elite all over the country, have continued calling on Biya to organise early elections and run as the CPDM candidate. Meanwhile, top CPDM officials are hinting the party’s congress is likely to be convened soon in order to officially endorse Biya’s candidacy.
