The rejection of 70 presidential hopefuls by Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) has ignited a political firestorm, casting serious doubt on the legitimacy of the country’s upcoming October 2025 presidential election. Among the disqualified is Célestin Djamen, whose case has become a flashpoint for growing concerns over transparency, due process, and political manipulation within Cameroon’s electoral system.
ELECAM’s Justification: Administrative Failures or Convenient Excuses?
On July 26, ELECAM released its final list of approved candidates, disqualifying 70 of the original 83 applicants. A staggering 55 of those rejections were due, at least in part, to a “lack of the certificate of registration on the electoral register.” In the case of Djamen, leader of the APAR party, ELECAM cited multiple alleged deficiencies: missing voter registration, lack of the required 300 endorsements, no proof of deposit, and absence of a signed declaration on honor.
But Djamen is pushing back—hard.
Djamen Rebuts: “Grave and Deceitful” Allegations
In a scathing response, Djamen denounced ELECAM’s claims as false and defamatory. He has since circulated photographic evidence of his voter card and what appears to be an official ELECAM receipt confirming his document submission—including the very declaration on honor the board claims was missing.
“To claim that I, Célestin Djamen, a municipal councilor from 2013 to 2020, am not registered on the electoral list is an abjection, an incongruity, and a grave attack on my honor and dignity,” he declared.
Djamen, who previously spearheaded youth voter registration drives, described the rejection as a “sacrilege”—a striking irony, given his public record in promoting electoral participation.
Leaked List of Approved Candidates Raises Suspicions
Perhaps more damning than the alleged clerical errors is the mysterious leak of ELECAM’s final list—before it was officially released. A list naming exactly 13 approved candidates had circulated online days earlier. When ELECAM published its official verdict, the names matched perfectly.
This coincidence has fuelled widespread speculation: Was the review process genuine, or was the outcome predetermined?
Selective Disqualification or Systemic Flaw?
Djamen’s evidence contradicts ELECAM’s reasoning, prompting uncomfortable questions:
- If a candidate with a complete file can be disqualified on dubious grounds, how many of the other 54 candidates were also wrongly rejected?
- Is ELECAM engaged in selective disqualification, operating under a facade of legality to mask political filtering?
- Was the entire process pre-scripted, designed to elevate certain candidates while eliminating perceived threats?
Djamen condemns what he calls ELECAM’s administrative “lightness” and “sorcery”, words that underscore the growing public frustration with the institution’s lack of accountability.
No Appeal, No Faith in Constitutional Council
Djamen has declined to appeal to Cameroon’s Constitutional Council, which is the next legal step for rejected candidates.
“I know in advance the fate that is reserved for the naive who go there,” he said, articulating a sense of institutional futility that resonates throughout Cameroon’s fragmented opposition.
Instead, Djamen has redirected his efforts toward future municipal and legislative elections, opting out of what he considers a rigged presidential race.
Growing Crisis of Confidence in Cameroon’s Electoral Process
As Cameroon approaches a critical election, public confidence in the electoral system is rapidly deteriorating. The case of Célestin Djamen—combined with the suspiciously accurate leaked candidate list—suggests a process that may be driven less by legal rigor and more by political calculus.
If ELECAM’s decisions are truly arbitrary or manipulated, then the very principles underpinning the democratic process—fairness, transparency, and equality before the law—are at risk.
Full list
This reason, listed as “Lack of the certificate of registration on the electoral register,” appeared frequently in the list of rejected candidatures.
The candidates rejected for this reason are:
ZEH épse AMVENE GENEVIÈVE, Independent Candidate
ABDOU WASSIOU (PRUP)
ABOUBAKAR KAMALDINE BELLO YAYA, Independent Candidate
ABOUBAKARY (MPSC)
ANGO MFOU’OU DAVID BORIS, Independent Candidate
BAMBE GOURANDI JEAN BAPTISTE (MSC)
BATOUA SILAS, Independent Candidate
BESSIPING (RFERE)
BINDOWO OUMGA, Independent Candidate
BOUBA MICHEL (RRDC)
CHOUPO KAMGAING HERVÉ, Independent Candidate
DALAMI ABDOUL MOUMINI (UNDC)
DALOUTOU HAMADA, Independent Candidate
DIBAMOU ANDRÉ MARIE (JDC)
DIN DIN FERDINAND, Independent Candidate
DJAOUROU RUBEN (PNPC)
DJAPA CHARLY (PSEC)
ELIANE EBOUTOU VERONIQUE (PNACC)
EGONO VALENTIN (UCDI)
EYENGA NKOUMOU JEAN JACQUES, Independent Candidate
FOMO NGOTA JEAN MARIE (RSDC)
FOUDA ESSOMBA VINCENT SOSTHÈNE (MCPSD)
FOWE ALAIN THIERRY, Independent Candidate
GVET JEAN (MPCC)
HIE CYRIAQUES CLÉMENT, Independent Candidate
KALEFACK JACOB (RPDC)
KAMCHI KAMTCHI PAUL ALAIN, Independent Candidate
KAMGAIN-TAN ERIC (LDCRC)
KISOB BERTIN (CPSJ)
KUEKA EMMANUEL (PSG)
MBAH ARNAUD MIRYL, Independent Candidate
MBENGONO ZOUAME epse NDZIE NGONO GUYLEINE, Independent Candidate
MBOLONG ETIENNE, Independent Candidate
MFOULA MFOULA CEDRIC GAEL, Independent Candidate
MOHAMADOU LAMINOU ADAMOU, Independent Candidate
MOUAFO GABRIEL (RGPC)
MVONDO MARCEL, Independent Candidate
NDASSA MOUNCHILI AROUNA (PNCE)
NDEMANNOU ANTOINE DE PADOUE (RDPFLack ofKUMSZE)
NDIM JACOB NGONG, Independent Candidate
NDJAMO DJAMEN CÉLESTIN (APAR)
NGANGUE KAMGAING MAGLOIRE (UCGP)
NGUEDAM ALBERT (MDC)
PRINCE MICHAEL NGWESSE EKOSSO (USDP)
NKAINMBI PROMISE NKAINMBI (RDCU)
NOUTCHA FOSSO ERIC GHISLAIN, Independent Candidate
NSOUMB SILAS (PRP)
ONGMAKAGNE HEU BIJOU GERALDINE, Independent Candidate
SIMO MAMBOU ISAAC MERLIN (UPA)
TCHAWOU NGANKAM HONORÉ, Independent Candidate
TEUABO ANDRÉ (PSPC)
TOBOLBAI RICHARD, Independent Candidate
TONLEU MATSA JEAN MARIUS, Independent Candidate
TUILE TUILE ROGER CHANTAL (DEBOUT LE CAMEROUN)
YIE ABDOURAMANI (MOREP)
