How CPDM has tightened grip on power since its disputed victory in 1992

By Daniel D.

The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement party (CPDM) has since 1992 spared the opposition no chance of coming close to victory in the last five Presidential elections.

President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, appeared to have been taken unawares by Ni John Fru Ndi’s Social Democratic Front (SDF), which came close to winning the Presidency in the disputed vote.

More than 30 years after Cameroon’s first multi-party elections, some political pundits still hold strongly that the 1992 victory was stolen from the SDF.
 
The only time in Cameroon that the opposition ever came close to winning the presidential election was in 1992.

Then, Cameroon had just embraced multipartism, a wind of change that was blowing across Africa.

The country’s first President, Ahmadou Ahidjo, handed power in 1982 to Paul Biya, who continued with the Cameroon National Union party before rebranding it to the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement in 1985.

Five years later, on May 26, 1990, in Bamenda, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) was born. 

The creation of the SDF Party changed the political landscape in Cameroon.

The people were eager for change, following Biya’s growing unpopularity, influenced by economic recession and fallen living standards. 1992 was that golden opportunity for change. 

The election was more of a close contest between the CPDM and the newly formed SDF, although the UNDP was also in the race.

The result CPDM narrowly escaped defeat with just a 4.01 percent difference over the opposition in the disputed election result.

The results were 39.98 percent for CPDM; 35.97 percent for the SDF and 19.22 percent for the UNDP.

However, these results have always been contested by members of the Social Democratic Front, who say their victory was stolen.

After succeeding in 1992, President Paul Biya managed to consolidate power to the extent that he has enjoyed a smooth ride in all elections.

Since 1992, no political party has even come close to winning either the Presidency, the Senate or the National Assembly.

President Biya’s successive governments have done everything possible to ensure the regime’s victory at all elections, which have usually been marred by allegations of rigging and corruption.

The presidential elections of 1997, 2004, 2011, and 2018 have seen the CPDM win more than 70 percent, while the opposition came in at just 17 percent.

As Cameroonians are gearing up for the 2025 presidential elections, there are calls for the opposition to unite as one before they can defeat the CPDM.

If they continue to contest individually, it will be difficult for them because the CPDM, with its resources, has established its strongholds in almost all regions of Cameroon. 

That probably explains why President Biya has always won with 70 percent of the vote count. 

©Mimi Mefo Info