Three Political Parties Part Ways with Their Presidential Candidates

By Njodzeka Kernyuy

Following the presidential election on October 12, three political parties have severed ties with the candidates they nominated.

Prior to the election, the only way Hiram Samuel Iyodi, Ateki Seta Caxton, and Akere Muna could have their candidacy validated was by obtaining three hundred signatures as independents or by running through a party with parliamentary representation. Since they could not gather the signatures, they opted for the latter option.

Ateki Seta Caxton secured the ticket of the Liberal Alliance Party (PAL); Hiram Samuel Iyodi obtained that of the Cameroon Democrat Front (FDC); and Akere Muna ran with that of the UNIVERS Party.

However, after the vote on Sunday, these candidates began to fall out with the presidents of their respective parties.

PAL vs. Ateki Seta Caxton

On Monday, a day after the election, Ateki Seta Caxton congratulated Issa Tchiroma Bakary on his victory.

Just hours later, PAL’s President, HRM Celestine Bedzigui, wrote a letter condemning Ateki Seta’s actions and distancing the party from the candidate’s statement. Given the tension, a permanent split between Ateki Seta Caxton and PAL is certain.

FDC vs. Hiram Samuel Iyodi

Also on Monday, the president of the FDC, Denis Atangana, declared that the incumbent, 92-year-old Paul Biya, had won. This statement prompted a reaction from the 39-year-old Iyodi, who stated that he could not acknowledge the incumbent’s victory and subsequently cut ties with Denis Atangana.

The rift widened when ELECAM published the list of representatives for the vote-counting commission, which included Denis Atangana’s name as Hiram’s representative. Mr. Iyodi wrote a letter to ELECAM rejecting Atangana and proposing a replacement. This marks another definitive break between a party and its candidate.

UNIVERS vs. Akere Muna

The situation between Akere Muna and UNIVERS became complicated even before the election. The conflict began when Akere decided to form a coalition with Bello Bouba Maigari. UNIVERS’s president, Prof. Nkou Mvondo, threatened Akere with a lawsuit. However, ELECAM had already confirmed Akere’s candidacy under UNIVERS, so there was no turning back. Prof. Mvondo later went to the Ministry of Territorial Administration to collect the campaign funds.

Even after the election, Akere Muna did not hesitate to congratulate Issa Tchiroma Bakary.

Of the parties that nominated outsiders, only the MCNC, which gave Dr. Jacques Bouhga Hagbe its ticket, has not had any issues with its candidate.

Some parties in Cameroon exist only at the council and parliamentary levels. During presidential elections, they often sell their tickets to non-party members who wish to run for president.