The National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) has sharply criticized the Constitutional Council’s decision to reject the candidacy of opposition leader Prof. Maurice Kamto for the upcoming presidential election, describing the move as a threat to democratic integrity and political pluralism in Cameroon.
In a strongly worded statement released Tuesday, UNDP President Bello Bouba Maïgari denounced the ruling as “unjustified” and “formalistic,” accusing the Council of prioritizing procedural technicalities over democratic principles.
Prof. Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), was disqualified from the October 12 presidential race over an alleged “plurality of nominations” within the MANIDEM party, a rationale the UNDP argues lacks legal and substantive merit.
“This ruling undermines the credibility of the electoral process,” the statement read. “It disregards the fundamental right of every citizen to stand for election and casts doubt on the impartiality of our institutions.”
The party also criticized the lack of transparency during the legal proceedings, noting the absence of televised hearings and what it described as a failure to consider key evidence and testimonies in Kamto’s defense.
The UNDP, a long-established party with roots in centrist and reformist politics, warned that the exclusion of major opposition figures could signal an authoritarian drift in the lead-up to the election.
“In this troubling context, we call for a national awakening. All republican institutions must rise above partisan interests,” said Bouba Maïgari.
The statement expressed solidarity with Kamto, pro-democracy advocates, and voters seeking a “free, inclusive, and credible election.” The party reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles, urging institutions to act with fairness and accountability.
Prof. Maurice Kamto, a former government minister and prominent opposition figure, has repeatedly challenged President Paul Biya’s decades-long rule, including a high-profile candidacy in the 2018 election.
With Kamto now officially barred from the race, the electoral landscape for October’s vote is narrowing raising fresh concerns among observers over the state of democracy in the Central African nation.
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