By Noela EBOB BISONG
92-year-old Paul Biya has been declared president-elect of the Republic of Cameroon. The results of the October 12 Presidential election was announced by the Constitutional Council on Monday, October 27, 2025, by Clement Atangana, alongside his close collaborators. The brief session to make public the results took barely an hour, at the Yaounde Conference Centre, in the presence of representatives of the various arms of government, the diplomatic corps, etc.
According to the statistics, Paul Biya, emerged victorious with 53.66%. His close contender, ex-minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, is said to have secured 35.19%.
Details of the figures are as such:
The results were proclaimed exactly 15 days after the presidential election last October 12, 2025. According to the electoral code in its section 140, it will now take another 15 days for the oath taking ceremony, which will see Biya assume office for the eighth time, as Head of State.
Key take-aways
From the results proclaimed by the Constitutional Council, Paul Biya won the election in six of the country’s ten regions; Centre, South, East, Far North, North West and South West, while Issa Tchiroma wins in Adamawa, North, Littoral, West and the Diaspora. Also, the withdrawal of candidates Akere Muna and Ateki Seta to join Bello Bouba was not recognised, as over 10,000 votes were attributed to the two candidates.
The results are not subject to any appeal(s), The SUN gathered.
High voter apathy
The 2025 presidential election in Cameroon recorded a very high voter apathy, said to be at 42.24%. Observers say this played a high role in affecting the final results, decided only by over four million Cameroonians, from the over eight million who registered, in the nation counting over 30 million citizens. Not exactly clear the reason(s) for the high abstention rate on election day, however security threats in some regions like the Far North, North West and South West regions may have been a contributory factor. Biya nonetheless secured comfortable wins in these regions.
Election results proclaimed amidst tense atmosphere
The results were proclaimed amidst tense atmosphere across the country, as most citizens stayed in doors. Reports say many streets, markets and business places were also deserted. Prior to the proclamation of the results on Monday, some administrators had prohibited the circulation of motorbikes in several towns in the country. Incessant peace calls, arrests and protests fueled in an atmosphere of uncertainty. Shortly after the results were announced by the Constitutional Council, opposition leader, Issa Tchiroma Bakary who was announced second in the election, wrote on Facebook that gunfire was being directed at civilians gathered outside his home in the northern town of Garoua. The results were announced a day after four protesters were reportedly shot dead in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, while more than 100 were arrested as hundreds of people stormed streets in several cities. The SUN also learnt of protests in Douala, Bafoussam, Bertoua, Garoua on Monday, as tensions mounted following the proclamation of the results. The fear of the unknown in a post-presidential election Cameroon, remains the lone certainty at the moment.
Biya, à long time statesman
Born on February 13, 1933, Paul Biya has been in public office for over half a century. Before becoming President of Cameroon in 1982 for the first time, Paul Biya, was upon his return to Cameroon, appointed Chargé de Mission at the Presidency of the Republic in October 1962. In January 1964, he was appointed Director of the Cabinet of the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Culture. A year later in July 1965, he rose to the post of Secretary General of the said ministry. Two years later, in December 1967, he was appointed Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic briefly before being appointed Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic in 1968. He will later be elevated to the position of Minister of State, SGPR in 1970, a position he occupied for five years, until he was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon in 1975. He will then succeed Cameroon’s first President, Amadou Ahidjo, as President of the Republic of Cameroon, on November 6, 1982. Biya is the world’s longest-serving ruler and this new seven-year-term keeps him in power until he will be nearly 100.