“Nothing Is Given.” Cameroonians Await Presidential Election Results

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – As ballot boxes closed across Cameroon on Sunday night, a tense calm swept through the country. Millions of citizens who had queued to cast their votes in what many described as a “historic election” now wait anxiously for results, hoping that their ballots could mark a turning point in the nation’s political history.

“Nothing is given. Let’s wait and see. Let’s wait for the name of the winner,” President Paul Biya told journalists after casting his vote in Yaoundé’s Bastos neighbourhood, a short drive from the Unity Palace.

At 92, Biya, the world's oldest sitting head of state, is widely expected to extend his 43-year grip on power. However, opposition forces insist this time could be different with the emergence of Issa Tchiroma Bakary. The vote count began late Sunday, with results expected within 15 days.

Biya faced stiff competition from Issa Tchiroma Bakari, 76, a former government spokesperson turned opposition leader, who rallied large crowds across the country under the banner of change and renewal. Speaking in his hometown, Garoua, after voting, Tchiroma urged vigilance: "This election comes at a time when the whole nation aspires for change. We must ensure that the results announced reflect the true outcome from the ballot boxes."

According to ELECAM, just over 8 million Cameroonians registered to vote in this year’s presidential election. Across Cameroon, from the streets of Bonduma, in the South West, to the streets of Douala in the Littoral Region and the plains of Garoua in the North Region, the mood was one of calm determination mixed with cautious optimism.

In Douala, Magdalene Tientcheu, 43, summed up the sentiment of many younger voters: “I want to see change, maybe a new face. I’ve never known another president all my life. I voted for a new face.”

In Buea, Ema Dikaki Mbuapa said she was hopeful this election would be different. "I just cast my vote, and I believe the vote of this year is going to change my country as a whole," she said. "I believe this year is a year of gold for my country."

Ngale Nelson, a civic activist, described the atmosphere as "serene and organised." "It's our civic responsibility to vote," he said. "The process has been fair enough for everyone, and the officials were professional. I feel satisfied and fulfilled that I practised what I preach — civic participation."

Enow George described Sunday’s vote as “free and transparent.” “This is my first time seeing such a large population turning out to vote, whether for change or continuity,” he said.

Analysts, however, remain cautious about the possibility of an upset. “A surprise is still possible,” said François Conradie, lead political economist at Oxford Economics. “But a divided opposition and the backing of a formidable electoral machine will, we predict, give the 92-year-old his eighth term. The machine he built may divide to rule one last time.”

Under Cameroon's single-round electoral system, the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not achieve an absolute majority. Biya abolished term limits in 2008, a move critics say cemented his rule and weakened democratic accountability.

This year, the president campaigned under the slogan “Greatness and Hope.” He held just one rally in Maroua, relying largely on state media and social media posts to reach voters. His campaign promised stability and continued infrastructure development.

In Buea, Dr Ernest, Regional Coordinator for the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC), said the enthusiasm seen across the South West signalled a desire for transformation. “The population came out for change,” he said. “We believe it is a change that we have received. We call on all leaders, opposition and incumbent, to accept the will of the people for the peace of our nation.”

For now, the country waits quietly, anxiously, in the words of its long-serving president: “Nothing is given. Let’s wait and see.”