from ROSY SADOU in Yaounde, Cameroon
Cameroon Bureau
YAOUNDE, (CAJ News) – CLAIMS of vote rigging, violence against polling officials and alleged abduction of opposition supporters have set the stage for a disputed election outcome in Cameroon.
The main opposition contestant, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has added to the tension by claiming victory and insisting he will not file any appeal with the Constitutional Council.
Failure to go the legal route could inflame the situation in the Central African country that the incumbent, Paul Biya (92), has dominated for five decades, including almost 43years as president.
Speaking on a radio interview on Thursday, Emmanuel Simh, an ally of former minister Bakary, is quoted as responding, “For what purpose?”
This was in response to a question if the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC) will appeal.
Bakary has declared himself winner of the poll that was held on October 12.
By declaring, on social media he has committed “high treason” if sentiment by Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, is anything to go by.
Only the Constitutional Council, accused of bias in favour of Biya, can declare a winner.
The Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), Biya’s party, has accused Tchiroma of plotting to destabilise Cameroon.
Another opposition contestant, the sole female, Patricia Ndim Njoya, of the Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC), described the process as an “electoral sham” and highlighted a series of violations observed by its teams on the ground.
These include fraudulent voting, ballot stuffing and the existence of fictitious polling stations.
There are allegations of falsification of official reports before their formal submission and threats and expulsions of poll monitors demanding transparency.
Reports emerged on Wednesday that police had abducted Atsamo Romaric, a member of the FSNC, in Yaounde.
In the West region, locals reportedly assaulted a head of an Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) polling station for allegedly increasing President Paul Biya’s vote count.
The video depicting the assault has gone viral.
There were protests at the ELECAM base in Douala.
– CAJ News