Overview
- Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary declared himself the winner in a Facebook address from Garoua and said he will publish region-by-region tallies drawn from posted polling-station results.
- Government officials warned that announcing results outside the legal process could constitute high treason and the ruling party said Tchiroma did not win.
- Political tension rose after supporters tried to gather near Tchiroma’s residence and as authorities increased security in sensitive areas, including the Anglophone regions.
- Provisional on-the-ground counts and civil-society monitoring indicated opposition gains in some urban centers and diaspora voting, though only the Constitutional Council can certify results.
- President Paul Biya, 92, sought an eighth seven-year term after 43 years in power in a single-round vote with more than 8 million registered voters, following the earlier exclusion of prominent opponent Maurice Kamto.