Former Biya ally and now his regime’s most dreaded nightmare, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has publicly claimed that serving government ministers and military officials have privately congratulated him on his alleged presidential election victory.
In his statement, Tchiroma also urged others to align with “the people” in what he describes as a crucial moment for national peace.
The statement, released amid a tense wait for official election results, marks a significant escalation in the political standoff with the regime of 92-year-old incumbent President Paul Biya, who has ruled the country for 43 years.
In his statement, Tchiroma extended gratitude to “the ministers and members of government who have personally called me in recent days to express their support”. He framed the current situation as a definitive moment of choice, stating, “The time is no longer for pretenses or calculations: when the stakes for our country and for national peace are this crucial, everyone must choose their side—and many have already done so”.
Significantly, Tchiroma also claimed support from within the powerful security apparatus, thanking “certain members of the High Command and our Armed Forces who… have made me aware of their determination not to betray their primary mission: protecting the people”. He issued a direct challenge to others still loyal to the Biya regime, asserting that “history will remember those who chose the people rather than privileges”.
Tchiroma’s claims of behind-the-scenes support come after he unilaterally declared victory in the October 12 presidential election. In a nearly-five-minute video speech posted to social media, he had earlier called on President Biya to “honour the truth of the ballot box” and concede with a phone call of congratulations.
This declaration defied explicit warnings from the government. Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji had previously stated that only the Constitutional Council has the authority to announce the winner, and that any unilateral publication of results would be meet with considerable consequences. The Constitutional Council has until October 26 to announce the official outcome.
The 76-year-old Tchiroma is no political novice. A former long-time ally of Biya, he served the president as Minister of Transport, Minister of Communication and later as Minister of Employment and Vocational Training. His resignation from the government in June positioned him as a leading contender in the election.
His political journey has been marked by dramatic shifts. In 1984, he was imprisoned for his alleged involvement in a failed coup against Biya, enduring over six years of detention before being released in 1990. He later reconciled with the president and became a prominent government spokesperson.
Authorities Push Back as Situation Remains Tense
The Cameroonian authorities have responded to Tchiroma’s victory claim with denial but have so far stopped short of the arrests they had threatened for anyone declaring results before the Constitutional Council’s official proclamation. The government has not yet issued an official response to Tchiroma’s latest claims about defecting supporters.
The political climate recalls the aftermath of the 2018 presidential election, when opposition challenger Maurice Kamto also declared himself winner. Kamto was subsequently arrested, and his supporters’ rallies were dispersed with teargas and water cannons.
As the nation awaits the official results, Tchiroma has also appealed to the press, urging journalists not to allow themselves “to be turned into instruments of disinformation for the sake of favours or positions”. With his latest statements, he has sought to project an image of gathering momentum and historical inevitability, calling on all sides to remain “standing, united, and vigilant” as Cameroon navigates what he terms these “grave” times.