Atanga Nji Condemns “Self-Proclamation” by Issa Tchiroma, Warns Against Disruption of Electoral Process

Paul Atanga Nji, Territorial Administration Minister.

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has strongly condemned what he described as “an act of extreme gravity” committed by Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a candidate in the October 12 presidential election, after the latter declared himself winner of the vote before official results were announced.

In a statement issued Tuesday October 14, two days after the Polls, in Yaoundé, the minister, speaking as the government’s representative in the ongoing electoral process, said Tchiroma’s declaration was “a flagrant violation of all legal provisions governing elections in Cameroon.”

                     Press Statement.

According to Atanga Nji, the former Employment minister’s televised self-proclamation was “an irresponsible and anti-republican gesture” aimed at destabilizing the democratic process and undermining national cohesion.

“This imposture is the behavior of a desperate candidate who could not even field representatives in half of the polling stations nationwide,” the minister said, adding that the act formed part of “a diabolical plan carefully orchestrated with local and foreign secret networks to plunge Cameroon into chaos and bloodshed.”

Pre-Election Warning and Network Closures

Atanga Nji reminded the public that as early as October 10, the government had warned of a plot by one of the candidates to prematurely proclaim victory. “This recent declaration only confirms the intelligence gathered by administrative and security services,” he said. “Several illegal networks set up to disseminate unauthorized results have since been dismantled.”

                   Press Statement.

The minister accused Tchiroma of creating parallel platforms to tabulate and publish vote counts actions, he noted, that contravene the Cameroonian Electoral Code, which grants sole authority for official results to the Constitutional Council.

Assurance of Law and Order

Atanga Nji reassured both domestic and international observers that the electoral process remains on course and that public order will be maintained across the country.

“The ongoing process will be completed in accordance with the law and without the slightest disturbance,” he affirmed. “The government remains determined to protect people and property throughout the national territory, following the high directives of His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic.”

He disclosed that 5,575 national and international observers accredited by the ministry were deployed in all ten regions on election day. Their preliminary reports, he said, indicated that polling was largely calm and orderly, with only isolated irregularities that were “not significant enough to undermine the credibility of the vote.”

Next Steps in the Electoral Process

The National Commission for the General Tally of Votes is expected to begin work immediately under the supervision of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM). Once completed, its report will be forwarded to the Constitutional Council, the only body legally empowered to determine and proclaim the final results of the October 12 election.

Firm Warning to Candidate Tchiroma

In a stern tone, Atanga Nji cautioned Tchiroma against any further attempt to incite disorder, recalling that similar actions by some candidates in the 1992 and 2018 elections had failed.

“As a former member of government, he should remember the Head of State’s emblematic declaration: ‘One must not play with Cameroon,’” the minister said.

Atanga Nji concluded by reiterating that “the law shall prevail” and urged all political actors to allow the institutions in charge to complete their duties peacefully.