“This victory is not that of a man or a party. It is the victory of a people” – Issa Tchiroma Declares Victory in Cameroon’s Presidential Election

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, leader of the Front pour le Salut National du Cameroun (FSNC), has declared himself the winner of Cameroon’s October 12 presidential election, claiming an “overwhelming victory” and urging authorities to “respect the truth of the ballot box.”

In an address to Cameroonians titled, “Nul homme ne saurait arrêter la roue de l’histoire” (“No man can stop the wheel of history”), the former minister and opposition leader thanked supporters across the country for what he described as a collective act of “courage and determination.”

“I have seen a Cameroon standing tall,” Tchiroma said. “I have seen women, men, and youth braving threats and intimidation to defend the truth of the vote. This courage will remain forever engraved in our nation’s memory.”

Tchiroma’s declaration comes less than 24 hours after polls closed in a tense electoral climate marked by limited access to results and allegations of irregularities in several regions. The national electoral commission, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), has not yet released official results.

Despite this, the FSNC candidate insisted that the outcome was “clear and irreversible,” describing the election as a “plebiscite in favor of change.”

He promised to publish a “detailed report” of regional vote counts collected from polling stations both in Cameroon and abroad, citing Article 113 of the Electoral Code, which mandates the public display of results at local levels.

“We have placed the regime before its responsibilities,” he said. “Either it shows its greatness by accepting the truth of the vote, or it plunges the country into turmoil that will leave an indelible scar.”

Tchiroma extended gratitude to other opposition candidates who, he claimed, had already congratulated him on his victory — a move he said marked “the beginning of a new era” of unity between opposition forces and civil society.

The self-proclaimed president-elect also issued a direct appeal to Cameroon’s defense and security forces, urging them to “remain on the side of the Republic and the people, not of power.”

“Do not let anyone turn you away from your sacred mission: to protect the people, not a regime,” he said.

Throughout his statement, Tchiroma cast his message in historic and patriotic tones, portraying the moment as a national turning point rather than a partisan triumph.

“This victory is not that of a man or a party. It is the victory of a people. It is the victory of Cameroon,” he declared.

He concluded by calling for calm, reconciliation, and a peaceful transfer of power, while encouraging the incumbent authorities to make “a gesture of political maturity” by acknowledging his claimed victory through a congratulatory call.

“The world is watching. History is watching,” he said. “Today begins a new era — the Cameroon of hope.”

Cameroon’s electoral code permits the publication of results at individual polling stations, but the final national totals must be certified by the Constitutional Council, which has until October 26 to proclaim the official outcome. Both ELECAM and the Constitutional Council are expected to release preliminary figures in the coming days.