Leon Theiller Onana, a former CPDM municipal councillor in Monatélé and an emerging opposition figure, has publicly called on President Paul Biya to step down. Onana cited evidence released by Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s team, including their own PVs and detailed results, which confirm the victory of the FSNC candidate in the 12 October presidential election.
Onana, who left the CPDM in August 2025 citing a tightly controlled political system and a manipulated judiciary, expressed his support for Tchiroma. In a public statement, he said: “If these procès-verbaux confirm his claim, I call on my former comrades in the CPDM to recognize their defeat.”
This move comes amid a tense political climate, marked by widespread allegations of electoral fraud and internal divisions within the CPDM. President Paul Biya, 92, has been in power since 1982, and his candidacy for another term has been controversial due to the absence of a party congress to renew his mandate.
Should the CPDM recognize Tchiroma’s victory, it could represent a major turning point in Cameroonian politics, potentially paving the way for a democratic transition after more than four decades of uninterrupted Biya rule.
