KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES FOR OCTOBER 2025 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
By Ndimancho Michael
A total of 13 candidates have been retained by Elections governing body ELECAM ,to run for the Presidential elections, October 12, 2025, pending the outcome of the decision of the Constitutional Council following complaints filed by the rejected candidates.
Among them are well known names who have had the test of the pudding in previous elections. Six of the candidates have participated in presidential election before.
A brief profile of the different candidates gives an idea on who is who.
1- BIYA Paul-CPDM Party (92yrs)
Mr Paul Biya first took civil service job in Cameroon in 1962 when he was appointed Charge’ de Mission at the presidency of the Republic. In 1964 he was appointed director of cabinet of the minister of national Education. Thereafter in 1967 he was appointed Secretary General at the presidency of the republic. In 1970 he was upgraded to Minister of State, Secretary General at the presidency of the Republic. In 1975 he was appointed prime Minister of the United Republic of Cameroon. He then became the constitutional successor of the former president, Ahmadou Ahidjo when he resigned in 1982. On November 6, 1982, he fully took up function as president of the republic.
Mr Paul Biya studied at Lycee Louis Le grand in paris, france, UNiversite’ Paris Sorbonne (faculty of Law), Institut d’etudes Politiques, Paris where he studied Political Sciences and Institut des hautes Etudes D’outre Mer.
2-BELLO BOUBA MAIGARI NUDP Party (77yrs)
Bello Bouba joint politics in the 1960s while serving administrative and ministerial post. He was the 6th prime minister of Cameroon under president Paul Biya from 1982-1984. He was then appointed the Minister of Transport in 1984 where he served until 1988. He is president of the NUDP since creation in 1992. He ran for presidential election in 1992 but on the list of paul Biya. He has been serving as Minister of state, Minister of Tourism since 2011. He resgned in 2025 and declared bid for the 2025 presidential election. He holds a bachelor degree in law at the Advanced school of Administration and magistracy.
3–Cabral Libii –PCRN (45 yrs)
Cabral Libii is a journalist, Law Instructor, Political editorialist, Member of Parliament.
At 38 years he ran for presidential election in 2018 and came out third favourite winner in the votes. He is president of the PCRN party that counts 5 seats in the National Assembly, seven Municipalities and 210 Municipal Councillors.
4- Joshua Osih –SDF (56 yrs)
He is an entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in aviation industry.
He is MP for the Wouri Centre Constituency in Douala. President of the Finance and Budget Committee and special rapporteur at the National Assembly.
He is National chairman of the SDF party succeeding NI John Fru Ndi (RIP) the first Chairman of the party. He ran for the 2018 presidential race as SDF flagbearer
5-Akere Muna Tabeng-UNIVERS Party (63yrs)
He is a Lawyer and Anti-corruption Advocate. Former President of the International anticorruption Conference. Sanctions Commission of the ADB 2013, Vice chair of Transparency International 2005-2014, Chairperson of the African peer review mechanism 2013, president of the Economic, social and Cultural Council of the 2008-2014, President of the Cameroon bar Association 1997-2002.
He studied at the School of International Service (Washington Dc) America
6-Serge Espoir Matomba-PURS Party (45yrs)
He is an Entrepreneur. Municipal Councillor for Yaounde 4.
He owns enterprises and also deals in Export/Import Consultancy in Douala
7- Issa Tchiroma Bakary-FSNC party (75yrs)
He is a politician and statesman.
Former railway Engineer.
He was NUDP member of the National Assembly in 1992. Minister of Transport from 1992 to 1996, minister of Communication from 2009 to 2019 and minister of Employment and Vocational training from 2019 till resigned in 2025.
He trained in transport and materials in France.
8-Tomaino Ndam Njoya-CDU party (56yrs)
She studied law at the Faculty of Law and economics at the University of Yaounde 2 obtaining a Masters in Public Law.
She was MP for Noun from 2007 to 2020. She then gave up seat to become Mayor of Foumban in 2020.
She is specialist in organizational training. An Entrepereneur and also president of Cameroon women in Coffee.
9- Jacques Bougha Hagbe –MCNC party
He is a retired Economist at the International Monetary Fund
Resident Representative in Haiti at IMF
He is a specialist in Fiscal and Monetary policy and public Finance management.
He holds a PhD in economics from cornell Uniiversity and an engineering degree from Ecole Centrale, Paris
10-Hiram Samuel Iyodi-FDC party (37yrs)
He is an Engineer and Youth Advocate. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Universite’ de laval, Quebec. He holds a certificate in Business Management
He is the Interim CEO of Cameroon Agro Industrial Group
11-Pierre Kwemo-UMS Party
He is member of parliament for upper Nkam.
Leader of the network of legislators for the advancement of taxation, finance, accounting and customs
A sports promoter and business person.
He created the UMS Loum Football club
12)Hilaire Zipang-MP party
He is Interim president of party the Mouvement Progressive since founding leader, Jacques Ekindi left to rejoin the CPDM on April 30 2020
He has been in this party since 1991
13- Ateki Seta Caxton –PAL party (39 yrs)
He is a Civil Society Actor
He represented Cameroon in over 35 countries. He has held prominent international roles viz; Spokesperson for Africa-France summit, Montpellier 2021.
He is currently a PhD candidate in economics and political economy.
He holds an MSC in International relations, IRIBA History at the University of Buea