The national president of the Cameroon Democratic Union party (CDU), Hermine Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya, has firmly rejected the results of the October 12 presidential election.
The result, of what experts have described as highly disputed, was made public by the Constitutional Council on Monday October 27.
The apex judiciary body declared incumbent Paul Biya,92, winner of the election with 53.66%. The nonagenarian is set to extend his 43-year rule at the helm of the state for an eight consecutive term.
Tomaino Ndam Njoya, who finished fifth, as per the results released by the Constitutional Council with 1.66%, said that the results “do not reflect the sovereign will of the Cameroonian people”.
The disapproval of the CDU presidential candidate is contained in an official statement issued in the late hours of Monday October 27.
According to the two-page document, a copy of which The Guardian Post has in its possession, the firebrand opposition candidate described the results as a reflection of the fragile electoral system undermined by irregularities, manipulation, and repeated violations of the law.
“What we have experienced is not an election worthy of a republic. It is a confiscation of the people’s choice by interests that reject the transparency of the democratic process,” Tomaino said in the release.
She also added that: “I solemnly reject these results and reaffirm, on behalf of the Cameroon Democratic Union, our commitment to free choice, respect for every vote, and the sovereignty of the people”.
Strikes gov’t, appeals for non-violence
Tomaino Ndam Njoya seized the occasion to urge the government to guarantee the constitutional right of the population to peaceful protest.
According to her, it is the people to demand justice, especially when their demands are not taken into consideration.
“No authority has the right to stifle the voice of a people standing up for themselves, without undermining the very essence of the Republic,” Tomaino stressed.
She also advised Cameroonians to express their demands “peacefully and with dignity”.
“Do not give in to destructive anger, because burning our cities is burning ourselves: it is burning our hopes. The victory of the people will not come from violence, but from perseverance, unity, and civic discipline,” the CDU president wrote.
Calls for dialogue, electoral reform
According to Tomaino Ndam Njoya, there is an urgent need for the convening of dialogue and consultation to ensure truth and peace.
She insisted that “an inclusive, frank, and sincere national dialogue to give the people a voice and rebuild, together, a Republican pact based on truth and trust”.
Also, Tomaino called for what she described as a consensual electoral reform, supported by all political and social forces. This, she added, will ensure that elections are no longer a source of division, but moments of national cohesion.
“(…) It is through these strong actions, and not through fear or repression, that we will be able to reconcile the country with itself and pave the way for a Cameroon that is just, peaceful, and worthy of its youth,” Tomaino said.
This report was originally published on The Guardian Post