Why Were Seventy Presidential Hopefuls Dashed By Elections Cameroon?

The Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) has rejected the candidacies of 70 individuals who submitted applications to contest in the October 12, 2025 presidential election. The rejections, finalised during a board session on July 26, 2025, reflect a strict enforcement of Cameroon’s electoral code.

A resolution published that day cites a range of unmet legal requirements, including submission of incomplete documents, non-payment of the electoral deposit, and conflicting party endorsements. ELECAM’s decisions have substantially reduced the pool of potential contenders.

Candidates Rejected for a Single Reason

Several aspirants were rejected based on a single legal or procedural fault, most notably for submitting multiple nomination letters from the same political party—a clear violation under Cameroon’s electoral law. Those affected by this ground include:

• Abdourahman Hamadou Babba (UPC)
• Baneveck Jean (UPC)
• Kamto Maurice (MANIDEM)
• Shewa David Damuel (MPCN)
• Yamb Ntimba Dominique (UPC)
• Yebga Dieudonné (MANIDEM)
• Yem Eboko Pierre Joseph (MPCN)

The rejection underlines how internal party disputes and conflicting endorsements—particularly within parties like MANIDEM and the UPC—can derail candidacies even before the campaign begins.

Missing Documents Sink Dozens

A more common basis for rejection was documentary incompleteness. Dozens of candidates, both independent and party-nominated, failed to meet essential filing requirements. The most frequent omissions included:

• Proof of payment of the required deposit
• A list of 300 legalized signatures
• Birth certificates
• Tax clearance certificates
• Certificates of nationality

Some individuals were missing nearly all required documentation. Notable examples include:

• Aboubakar Kamaldine Bello Yaya (independent) – Rejected for lacking nine documents, including deposit proof, signatures, birth certificate, and tax compliance.
• Bambe Gourandi Jean Baptiste (MSC) – Disqualified for also lacking nine key items.

Age Barrier Disqualifies Several Candidates

A handful of aspirants were barred from the race for failing to meet the minimum legal age requirement for presidential candidates. Those disqualified on this basis include:

• Abdou Wassiou (PRUP)
• Daloutou Hamada (independent)
• Eliane Eboutou Veronique (PNACC)
• Hie Cyriaques Clément (independent)

Unique Case: Registered but Without Party or Independent Status

Two candidacies were rejected for a distinct procedural irregularity: they were neither submitted under a party banner nor as independent bids. According to Article 3 of ELECAM’s resolution, both candidates were listed as registered but failed to meet the formal status criteria outlined in Sections 121 and 122 of the Electoral Code.

Those concerned:

• Léon Theiller Onana – Known as a CPDM municipal councilor in Monatélé, he submitted his file under the CPDM label but was ultimately deemed to lack valid party or independent status.
• Membouet Tagne Adelaide Chantal – Also rejected on the same basis.

Their nominations were dismissed not for documentation gaps, but because their legal standing under the electoral code was deemed invalid.

Appeals Possible Through the Constitutional Council

Candidates have the right to challenge ELECAM’s decisions by filing appeals to the Constitutional Council, which has the authority to reverse rejections. The appeal window closes on July 28, 2025.

This mass disqualification significantly reshapes the 2025 presidential race and reveals deeper issues within party coordination and candidate preparedness. As Elections Cameroon proceeds with the final list of validated contenders, attention now shifts to the Constitutional Council and how it might rule on high-profile appeals—including those involving Maurice Kamto and Dieudonné Yebga.

MMI