The Electoral Council of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) has published the official list of candidates selected for the 2025 presidential election. Out of the 83 applications initially submitted, only 13 were approved. This drastic reduction, compared to the initial 83 applications, can be explained by strict eligibility criteria. It should also be noted that these criteria were used to exclude opposition figures such as Maurice Kamto.
The most notable absence is that of Maurice Kamto, Paul Biya’s main opponent in the 2018 election. His candidacy, presented under the banner of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM), was curiously rejected.
Rejected candidates have four days to contest the decision, but the 2018 constitutional amendment limits the possible appeals before the Constitutional Council.
2025 Presidential Election: The 13 Selected Candidates
Here is the list of the 13 confirmed candidates:
- Paul Biya (RDPC): Aged 92, the outgoing president, who has been in power since 1982, is seeking an eighth term under the banner of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC). His candidacy, made official on July 13, 2025, has sparked debate about his health and his ability to govern for another seven-year term. Despite criticism, the RDPC remains a powerful electoral machine, supported by tight control of institutions.
- Bello Bouba Maigari (UNDP): Aged 78, this former ally of Paul Biya, Minister of State for Tourism and Recreation, broke his alliance with the RDPC to run under the banner of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP). A candidate in 1992, he is back in the race as an opposition candidate, although he is still perceived as close to the ruling party.
- Issa Tchiroma Bakary (FSNC): Aged 75, this former minister and ex-ally of Paul Biya represents the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon. After breaking with the presidential majority, he is positioning himself as a voice of opposition, while drawing on his political experience.
- Akere Muna (Univers): Aged 72, this renowned international lawyer, known for his commitment to fighting corruption, is running for the Univers party. Already a candidate in 2018 under the banner of the “Now!” movement, he embodies a reformist alternative.
- Cabral Libii (PCRN): Leader of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN), this member of parliament finished third in 2018. At 45, he is banking on his image of modernity and his popularity among young people.
- Joshua Osih (SDF): Representing the Social Democratic Front (SDF), this experienced 56-year-old politician is running for president for the second time. The SDF, which is well established in the English-speaking regions, remains a historic opposition force.
- Tomaïno Ndam Njoya (UDC): President of the Union Démocratique du Cameroun and mayor of Foumban, this 67-year-old female figure in Cameroonian politics embodies a feminist and progressive candidacy.
- Serge Espoir Matomba (PURS): Leader of the United People for Social Renewal, this 44-year-old candidate advocates a break with sovereignty, with radical proposals such as leaving the CFA franc and rewriting the Constitution.
- Pierre Kwemo (UMS): Representative of the Union of Socialist Movements, this former member of parliament positions himself as an alternative voice within the opposition, with a discourse focused on social justice.
- Hilaire Macaire Nzipang (MP): Candidate of the Progressive Movement, this new face on the Cameroonian political scene seeks to capture attention with innovative proposals.
- Hiram Samuel Iyodi (FDC): He represents a new generation of presidential hopefuls, often motivated by a desire for political renewal.
- Jacques Bouba Hagbe (MCMC): He seeks to shake up the established order.
- Ateki Parkston (PAL): He says he is motivated by the country’s socio-economic challenges.