By Njodzeka Kernyuy
The president of the Liberal Alliance Party (PAL), HRM Celestin Bedzigui, has made startling revelations about the ongoing opposition coalition talks, which appear to have collapsed.
In a surprising turn of events, he disclosed that Issa Tchiroma Bakary, presidential candidate of the National Salvation Front (FSN), favors a coalition but insists on being its leader.
According to Bedzigui, Tchiroma had been sending representatives to previous meetings but decided to attend the most recent one in Yaoundé in person—though he left before the discussions concluded.
Aside from Tchiroma, Bedzigui also revealed that Bello Bouba Maigari of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) is interested in a coalition, but only if it is built around his leadership.
He noted, however, that the UNDP has so far not taken part in any of the coalition talks.
He further accused Cabral Libii of the PCRN and Joshua Osih of the SDF of hypocrisy, claiming both men ultimately intend to run as independents.
Cabral Libii was among the first to rush to ELECAM to register his party’s colors and logos for the ballot.
Heading for Doom
PAL’s president maintains that only a united opposition front can defeat President Paul Biya’s regime as the incumbent seeks an eighth term.
Yet, given the current disarray, Bedzigui predicts a crushing defeat for the opposition.
“For three months, I’ve been telling opposition leaders that only a ‘package deal’—including a consensus candidate, a common platform, pooled vote-monitoring resources, and a power-sharing agreement—can lead to victory over the CPDM,” he said.
He explained that all 11 opposition candidates had been contacted to join the talks, but only about five have participated.
“I personally reached out to key opposition figures. The first meeting was held under the auspices of Mme Tomaino (UDC president), Hilaire Zipang (MP), and myself. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the six parties present: UDC, PAL, MP, FSNC, UPC, and UMS,” he revealed.
“We later met with the MCNC in Foumban, which joined the group—though without the UMS.”
Another three-day meeting followed at the Muna Foundation, but no consensus was reached.
“At the decisive meeting to select a consensus candidate at the Muna Foundation, none of the candidates present agreed to step down,” Bedzigui recounted. Since then, no further talks have been held.
Personal Ego Over National Interest
According to Bedzigui, instead of setting aside personal ambitions, opposition politicians have chosen to prioritize their own interests.
With such a mindset, he believes the opposition is doomed to fail.
This, he argued, is the result of duplicity and selfishness within Cameroon’s opposition—some of whom he described as the “True Architects of Biya’s Victory.”
PAL has already nominated Ateki Seta Caxton as its presidential candidate for the upcoming election.