Cameroon’s 2025 Presidential Election Sees Historic 81 Candidates as Paul Biya Runs for Eighth Term

Yaoundé, Cameroon — Cameroon faces a historic election moment with 81 candidates submitting bids for the nation’s top office ahead of the October 12, 2025, presidential vote. The unprecedented number signals both surging political engagement and deepening divisions among the country’s elite, as the poll is set to shape Cameroon’s democratic trajectory.

President Paul Biya Seeks Eighth Term
Incumbent President Paul Biya, 92, formally declared his candidacy on July 13, seeking an eighth consecutive term backed by the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). Senior party officials submitted their paperwork to the electoral body ELECAM on July 17.

Biya, in power since 1982, became one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders after a 2008 constitutional amendment removed term limits. 

While credited with economic stability, his government faces criticism for a lack of political renewal, human rights concerns, and an unresolved separatist crisis in Anglophone regions. Biya’s age and rumored health issues have sparked intensifying speculation about succession.

Opposition Figures and Defections
The crowded field includes established opposition leaders and prominent former allies of Biya:

Maurice Kamto (71): The Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) leader runs under the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) after facing government pressure. Kamto led a significant, though disputed, challenge in 2018.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary (75): The former cabinet minister and longtime Biya supporter now runs for the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC), resigning from government in June amid mounting unrest.

Bello Bouba Maigari (78): Previously prime minister and CPDM stalwart, Maigari enters the race for the National Union for Democracy and Progress (NUDP) while maintaining ties to the ruling party.

Akere Muna (72): The renowned anti-corruption lawyer stands for the Univers party, offering a clear alternative to establishment politics.

Seven women are among the candidates, highlighting increased if still limited, gender representation. The surge reflects growing pluralism but also illustrates profound opposition fragmentation.

ELECAM closed candidate submissions on July 21. The election commission now reviews applications, with validated candidates to be named by August 11, ahead of a brief appeal window.

Election credibility remains a flashpoint. Opposition parties and civil society groups cite continued government influence over electoral bodies, while Catholic bishops and faith leaders call for transparent reforms. The continued use of paper documents despite digital advancements has fueled fears about possible manipulation.

Biya’s CPDM dominates the political landscape, but Kamto’s opposition bloc pushes for unity against the incumbent. Election officials report increased voter registration, especially among youth and women, following extensive outreach.

Security remains a pressing concern. Ongoing violence in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest may disrupt voting, while the government maintains a strong presence to counter separatists and extremist groups in the Far North.

The single-round, first-past-the-post system raises the possibility of vote splitting in the expansive field. Despite defections and a fractured opposition, Biya’s control over state institutions remains formidable. 

With international observers set to monitor proceedings, Cameroon’s 2025 election is widely viewed as a defining test—a contest between entrenched authority and calls for change as the country stands at a political crossroads.