After Kamto’s Disqualification: Barrister Agbor Balla Calls for Opposition Unity Ahead of October 12
Renowned Cameroonian barrister and human rights advocate Nkongho Felix Agbor, popularly known as Agbor Balla, has made an impassioned plea for opposition unity following the exclusion of Prof. Maurice Kamto from the 2025 presidential race. In a powerful public statement under the banner Agbor Balla Speaks (ABS), the international legal expert condemned the move as a calculated blow not just to Kamto but to the broader democratic process in Cameroon.
Speaking with a tone that was both urgent and resolute, Barrister Agbor Balla described the decision to bar Kamto from the election as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the opposition and disillusion millions of Cameroonians who yearn for real political change. Yet, instead of allowing this moment to create further fragmentation, he called on opposition leaders, civil society, and political parties to treat it as a turning point, a moment for collective action, not individual ambition.
“This is not just a personal blow to one candidate, it is a calculated attempt to weaken the democratic process,” Agbor Balla stated. “But we must not allow this setback to divide or defeat us.”
Barrister Agbor Balla, who rose to prominence through his legal advocacy during the Anglophone Crisis and his broader work on democratic governance and human rights across Africa, emphasized the need for a single, united opposition front. In his statement, he called on political leaders across the spectrum to urgently convene, build consensus, and rally behind one candidate who can carry the hopes of the nation.
He warned that a fragmented opposition would only play into the hands of those who benefit from disorder and confusion. In contrast, a united front, he argued, would restore power to the people and signal readiness to challenge the status quo. “Cameroonians are watching. The world is watching,” he said. “Now is the time for the opposition to rise above individual ambition and put the nation first.”
The barrister’s words strike a familiar chord in a country where democratic openings have historically been stifled and opposition movements repeatedly thwarted. For over four decades, President Paul Biya has presided over Cameroon, and elections have often been marred by accusations of fraud, suppression of dissent, and constitutional manipulation. The disqualification of Kamto, widely seen as one of Biya’s strongest challengers, has only deepened concerns about the legitimacy of the upcoming election.
Still, the president of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa remains focused on what can be done not only to contest this injustice, but to reshape the path ahead. He urged Cameroonians not to be passive observers but active participants in forging a new political culture grounded in courage, unity, and strategic thinking. “Let us not allow history to say that we were too divided to rise,” he said. “Cameroon is bigger than any one person. Our children are watching. Our future is on the line.”
The appeal has already begun to stir conversations across political circles and civil society networks, with some suggesting the need for an emergency conference to chart the way forward. Whether the opposition will come together under a single candidate remains uncertain. But Barrister Agbor Balla’s call has, at the very least, reignited a critical national conversation: one that places the future of Cameroon's democracy squarely in the hands of those willing to act with unity and purpose.
Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla’s statement is not just a political message, it is a challenge to the conscience of a nation. It urges leaders to step beyond personal ambition and think generationally. As the country approaches one of the most consequential elections in its history, his words resonate with a clear vision: only unity can lead Cameroon forward.
Comments
Post a Comment