Prof. Maurice Kamto, opposition figure and attempted 2025 MANIDEM presidential candidate, has officially confirmed that he will not be on the ballot for the October 12 presidential election, citing what he calls an “unjust and inadmissible decision” to reject his candidacy.
Despite this setback, Kamto, the former leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) and now head of the Political Alliance for Change (PAC), has reaffirmed his commitment to influencing the outcome of the election and championing the aspirations of Cameroonians seeking change.
In a strongly worded address on Friday, September 26, Kamto lamented the failure of opposition leaders to forge a coalition ahead of the official launch of campaigns. He disclosed that, since mid-September, he had engaged seven of the eleven opposition candidates in extensive discussions, attempting to broker an agreement, particularly between UNDP candidate Bello Bouba Maigari and FSNC candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, to present a single consensus candidate.
“Such an approach,” Kamto explained, “would have triggered a national popular movement, pooling resources and avoiding the dispersion of votes, thereby giving the entire people of change a real chance at victory.”
However, Kamto admitted that these talks ultimately collapsed, leaving the opposition fragmented just days before the campaign season officially opened.
Warning of Vote Scattering
Kamto’s statement painted a sobering picture of the consequences of the failed coalition effort. He warned of the “prospect of a scattering of votes that could seriously compromise the chances of victory for an opposition candidate” a development that, he argued, would play into the hands of the ruling CPDM.
The veteran politician further expressed disappointment at what he called “deep divisions” between supporters of the two Northern candidates, a factor he believes will weaken the overall opposition dynamic in the final stretch toward the polls.
Call for a Conscience Vote
Against this backdrop, Kamto said PAC has resolved to leave the choice to individual Cameroonians.
“Each voter must now take full responsibility,” he declared, “voting freely and in good conscience for the opposition candidate who best represents their aspirations and the change our nation so badly needs.”
While not endorsing any specific candidate, Kamto’s words are expected to resonate strongly among his base, who have long viewed him as one of the most credible challengers to President Paul Biya’s decades-long rule.
Analysts See Divided Opposition Helping Biya
Political observers argue that Kamto’s withdrawal, coupled with the absence of a united opposition front, is likely to benefit the incumbent. “The lack of a consensus candidate almost guarantees a split opposition vote,” said political scientist Dr. Claude Ndoh.
“Unless there is an extraordinary surge in turnout for one of the major challengers, President Biya’s CPDM stands to capitalize on this fragmentation.”
Nevertheless, Kamto’s call to vote “with conscience” may energize voters disillusioned with party politics and elite bargaining, possibly boosting participation in key urban centers.
As the campaign season begins, all eyes now turn to how opposition candidates will frame their messages and whether Kamto’s appeal will galvanize a decisive block of voters or merely underscore the divisions that have plagued Cameroon’s opposition for years.
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