By Boris Esono Nwenfor
The Coalition of Cameroon Federalist Groups and Activists (CCFGA) has issued a statement congratulating Issa Tchiroma Bakary of the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC) on what it describes as his “resounding victory” in the October 12 presidential election, even as the official results are still awaited from the Constitutional Council.
In the communiqué signed by its chairperson, Michael Takie, the coalition said emerging voting trends across the country point to what it termed an “unassailable victory” for Tchiroma. The group thanked Cameroonians for their participation in the electoral process and praised civil society organisations for independently collecting and sharing vote counts.
“The emerging trends point to an unassailable victory for Issa Tchiroma Bakary. The CCFGA is convinced, based on careful analysis of these trends, that the will of the sovereign people of Cameroon has established Issa Tchiroma Bakary as the next president of Cameroon,” the statement read.
CCFGA Warns Against Electoral Manipulation
The coalition expressed concern over what it described as “desperate measures” allegedly being taken by the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) to reverse the outcome in certain regions. It accused some government officials and party elites of attempting to manipulate vote tallies, particularly in the two regions of the former Southern Cameroons.
“These disdainful and shameless manipulations seem to be carried out under the instruction of a minister of former Southern Cameroons origin, with the collaboration of CPDM elites also from the same regions,” the statement alleged, warning that legal action could be taken against those involved.
The CCFGA called on all Cameroonians to remain vigilant and to “make their own judgment based on publicly available results.” It also urged citizens to extend their congratulations to Tchiroma as the candidate they believe has been chosen by the people.
While reaffirming its support for a peaceful democratic transition, the coalition urged calm among citizens and cautioned against equating peaceful demonstrations with insurrection.
“We denounce the regime’s equation of peaceful protests with insurrection and remind all Cameroonians that effective constitutional democracy and the federalism we seek place a high value on peaceful protests as a central part of the exercise of popular sovereignty,” the statement emphasised.
Call for Peace and Restraint
The CCFGA also called on President Paul Biya to “restrain his zealous supporters” and concede defeat, arguing that the people of Cameroon have clearly expressed their will through the ballot box.
“The people of Cameroon have clearly registered their judgment. They are fed up with his government, and their will should be respected. They have clearly elected Issa Tchiroma Bakary as the next president,” the statement declared.
The coalition congratulated Tchiroma for what it described as a “disciplined, unifying, and uplifting campaign,” and expressed its readiness to collaborate with his administration toward the establishment of a federal republic as a framework for national unity and sustainable governance.
May God bless Cameroon as we jointly call for a peaceful transfer of power from Biya to Tchiroma in accordance with the will of the sovereign people of Cameroon,” Michael Takie, Chairperson of the CCFGA, said.
“Pursuing this path will be most rational as it will bring us closer to the affirmation that, for there to be political stability and sustainable development, Cameroon must be one nation, federated.”
