By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Cameroonians are set to file out to vote on Sunday in a presidential election where the 92-year-old incumbent Paul Biya seeks an extension of his 43-year grip on power.
The world’s oldest ruler who is seeking an 8th term in office is running against his former spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma, 76, who has drawn large crowds demanding an end to Biya’s long tenure.
Tchiroma’s bid to oust his former boss has received endorsements from a platform of some opposition parties and civil society groups.
Political analysts are however of firm belief that Biya, who has been in power since 1982, is likely to be re-elected given his influence in key government machinery, including the electoral body amid divided opposition ranks.
Biya’s critics are hoping he can be ousted after decades of what they call economic stagnation and tensions in the Central African nation with a population strength of 30 million, which as oil and cocoa as major revenue sources.
In Briqueterie, a neighbourhood of the capital Yaounde, a registered voter, Hassane Djbril a professional driver said he hopes the election would bring change, a Reuters report says.
“For 43 years, Cameroonians have been suffering. There are no jobs,” said Djbril, who plans to vote for Tchiroma. “We want change because the current government is dictatorial.”
Voting starts at at about 0800 GMT and ends at 1700 GMT, while results are expected within 15 days.
In 2008, Biya initiated a constitutional change to abolish term limits to grant him opportunity to remain in power. Single-round electoral system gives victory to the candidate with a simple majority.
“A surprise is still possible, but a divided opposition and the backing of a formidable electoral machine will, we predict, give the 92-year-old his eighth term,” said Francois Conradie, lead political economist at Oxford Economics.
“Biya has remained in power for nearly 43 years by deftly dividing his adversaries, and, although we think he isn’t very aware of what is going on, it seems that the machine he built will divide to rule one last time,” Conradie added in a note.
