By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
In a high-stakes rally aimed at galvanizing the ruling party’s base, Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, while addressing CPDM sympathisers at the South West Regional Launch of Campaigns for the October 12 Presidential election, stressed on the fact that the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya has the interest of the South West Region at heart. He declared that re-electing Biya is the only way for the South West Region to safeguard its privileges and continued development.
The declaration was made before a mammoth crowd of Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) sympathisers and militants at the South West Regional Launch of Campaigns, held at the Independence Square in Buea, Saturday, September 27, 2025.
Addressing the fervent supporters, PM Dion Ngute positioned the upcoming presidential election as a critical choice between preserving hard-won gains and facing an uncertain future. “Politics is a game of interest, and President Biya has the interest of the South West Region at heart,” the Prime Minister stated emphatically.
He presented a catalogue of the region’s current advantages as direct fruits of President Biya’s commitment. These include its strong representation in the government, the National Assembly, and the Senate, as well as major infrastructure projects like the Kumba Gas Plant. Dion Ngute argued that these advancements would be jeopardized if anyone else were to win the election.
Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, issued a stark warning to the people of the South West Region: re-electing President Paul Biya on October 12 is the only way to safeguard the region’s privileges and continued development, while a vote for any other candidate would have “disastrous consequences.”
“The region will cease to benefit from the privileges and development advances it currently enjoys if Biya does not win the presidential election,” he cautioned, framing the election as a referendum on the region’s prosperity.
-SONARA relocation rumours dismissed
In a move to quell rising regional anxieties, the Head of Government firmly dismissed rumours that the National Oil Refinery, SONARA, is slated for relocation. Pointing to the ongoing reconstruction of sections devastated by a fire incident in 2019, he asserted that the facility remains a cornerstone of the region’s industrial infrastructure.
“He said the very fact that construction work has begun on parts of the refinery that caught fire in 2019 is proof that it remains a regional asset,” the PM told the crowd, offering reassurance about the government’s commitment to maintaining key assets within the region.
Looking ahead, Dion Ngute promised that further development was in the pipeline. He highlighted intensified plans for the Limbe Deep Seaport, the construction of the Bekoko-Idenau road, and the development of Tiko Airport as evidence of the government’s continued focus on the South West.
-Defending Biya’s age and fitness
Responding to persistent criticism about the 92-year-old President’s age and fitness for another term, the Prime Minister dismissed the claims as unreasonable. In a colourful analogy aimed at connecting with the agrarian community, he asked, “Those of you who are cocoa farmers, do you cut down a cocoa tree because it is old?” The crowd roared back with a resounding “No! No!”
He further elaborated on his role, stating, “President Biya has made me his legs, so that where he cannot go, I would go,” positioning himself as a direct extension of the President’s authority and reach.
-A call to action, strategy for renewal
Echoing the Prime Minister’s urgent call, Senator Nfor Tabetando, Interim Regional Delegate of the CPDM South West Permanent Delegation, declared it was time for the people of the region to honour the numerous motions of support they had previously sent, calling on President Biya to run again.
Senator Tabetando said Paul Biya had played his part by responding to their call; thus, the ball is now in their court to ensure he enjoys a landslide victory on election day.
The Senator urged CPDM elites and campaign committees to “spare no effort” and “leave no stone unturned” in taking Biya’s campaign message to every household. He also alerted that, “The South West is a CPDM stronghold, but we should not rest on our laurels. No two elections are the same.”
The message of a renewed, grassroots-focused campaign was a central theme of the launch. Professor Elvis Ngole Ngole, Director of the CPDM Academy, outlined a dual-pronged strategy designed to be more inclusive and dynamic. The plan prioritises aggressive social media outreach to win over young voters and a traditional door-to-door approach to ensure no voter is left behind.
Party insiders confirm that the campaign is designed to give a fresh feel to the CPDM’s message, emphasising inclusivity and a direct connection with the electorate.
As the campaign enters its final stretch, the CPDM has made its position clear: for the South West Region, the path to continued development runs directly through the re-election of President Paul Biya, presenting voters with a choice they frame as one between guaranteed progress and potential peril.