The Constitutional Council has rejected a petition filed by Barrister Tabeng Akere Muna, presidential candidate of the UNIVERS Party and long-time anti-corruption campaigner, challenging the eligibility of President Paul Biya, standard-bearer of the ruling CPDM, for the October 2025 presidential election.
Clement Atangana, President, Constitutional Council.
The Council’s President, Clement Atangana, announced the decision late Friday August 22, 2025, after several hours of hearings, declaring the petition “inadmissible.” No detailed justification was provided, leaving both the public and observers questioning the grounds for the ruling.
Barrister Akere Muna Presenting His Case With Serious Conviction.
Muna Reacts: “They Have Won Without Honour”
Speaking shortly after the ruling, Barrister Akere Muna expressed disappointment and frustration at what he described as a hollow victory for the incumbent camp.
“If they have won, then they have won without honour,” Muna told reporters. “The Head of the Civil Cabinet was seated there and asked to provide evidence, but he admitted he had nothing to say or show. Speaking of Akere Muna, I was present there since morning. On the 12th, a Cameroonian will go to the polls to vote for someone they have never seen. Someone who will not meet their needs. The president we have in this country today does not govern; perhaps he reigns, but he certainly does not govern,” Akere Muna stated.
Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, Director of Civil Cabinet at the Presidency and Philip Ngole Ngole, CPDM Member Listening to Akere Muna
His remarks underscored growing criticism of the Council’s refusal to elaborate on the grounds for rejecting the petition.
Petition Against Biya’s Candidacy
Barrister Akere Muna’s filing had sought clarification on whether Biya, who has been in power since 1982, met the requirements to stand once again under Cameroon’s electoral law. The move was seen as one of the most significant legal challenges to the President’s candidacy ahead of the polls.
Barrister Akere Muna Addressing the Constitutional Council Earlier August 22.
A prominent lawyer and former vice-president of Transparency International, Muna has consistently campaigned on a platform of good governance and the fight against corruption. His supporters argue that Biya’s extended rule undermines democratic renewal and violates the spirit of constitutional limits.
Council’s Silence Raises Questions
The Council’s refusal to admit the case without explanation has drawn attention, with critics pointing to a lack of transparency in the decision-making process. Opposition figures and civil society groups say the silence risks fueling doubts about the impartiality of electoral institutions.
Meanwhile, CPDM representatives have maintained that Biya’s candidacy complies fully with the law and have dismissed the petition as a distraction.
High-Stakes Election
The October 2025 vote is expected to be one of Cameroon’s most consequential in decades, with the 92-year-old Biya seeking yet another mandate amid mounting calls for political transition. Opposition parties remain divided, with some rallying around federalist proposals while others defend the unitary state model.
For Akere Muna, who entered the race as both a reformist voice and a critic of entrenched governance practices, the Council’s rejection represents a setback. However, his campaign team has pledged to continue pressing for accountability and electoral transparency in the weeks leading up to the vote.
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