By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The commission responsible for conducting elections in Cameroon has rejected the candidacy of Maurice Kamto, the main rival to President Paul Biya, in an upcoming presidential election in the central African country.
This raises risk of anti-government demonstrations in the country where Biya, 92, has been the President for the last 43 years.
“In case of the rejection of certain candidates in this election, it is possible there will be protests in the centre of Yaounde and near the seat of ELECAM,” the United Nations Department of Safety and Security said in a statement on Friday.
The electoral commission, ELECAM chief announced the decision at a press conference on Saturday when he read out a list of 13 approved candidates which did not include Kamto.
No reasons were given for his disqualification. Only two days window are available to those who are disqualified to file an appeal.
Biya, the world’s oldest-serving Head of State had announced his intention earlier this month to seek re-election in the October 12 vote for the eighth time.
Kamto came second in the 2018 presidential election with 14% of the vote. Biya won by a landslide amid allegations of fraud.
