Cameroon’s opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has proclaimed victory in Sunday’s presidential election — a daring move made days before the nation’s electoral body is set to announce official results.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Tchiroma stated that “our victory is clear and must be respected,” urging the government to “accept the truth of the ballot box” or risk “plunging the country into turmoil.” He further promised to release detailed regional results soon, insisting that “the people have spoken.”

Under Cameroonian law, only the Constitutional Council has the authority to announce final results. The government has repeatedly warned that any premature declaration of victory crosses a “red line.”

Tchiroma’s move draws parallels with the 2018 election, when opposition figure Maurice Kamto also declared himself winner against long-serving President Paul Biya before official tallies were released. Kamto was later detained, and his supporters’ protests were forcefully dispersed.

President Paul Biya, in power for 43 years and the world’s oldest sitting head of state, is seeking yet another term. Despite Biya’s dominance, Tchiroma — a former employment minister — has gained unexpected momentum among younger voters, making this one of Cameroon’s most competitive elections in decades.

As both sides share tally sheets and handwritten results on social media, each continues to claim victory — raising fears of possible post-election unrest in the Central African nation.

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, has stepped down from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, citing the need to safeguard his integrity and prevent distractions to the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Presidency confirmed Nnaji’s resignation on Tuesday, following heightened public scrutiny over allegations of certificate forgery and inconsistencies in his academic records.

In a statement released the same day, Nnaji said his decision came after “careful reflection and consultations with family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians.” He described the claims as part of a “sustained campaign of falsehood” that he believes is politically motivated, aimed at undermining both his character and office.

“These baseless allegations and media distortions have caused personal distress and begun to distract from the important work of the ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

Nnaji emphasized that his resignation should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt, but rather as a personal choice to uphold due process and allow judicial proceedings to take their course.

“I cannot, in good conscience, allow these distractions to overshadow the noble objectives of the Tinubu administration,” he added, reaffirming his decades-long record of dedication and service.

Appointed in August 2023, Nnaji’s tenure ended amid investigations into alleged procurement irregularities and a public dispute with the Enugu State Government over the certificate forgery allegations.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has blamed the deteriorating security situation in the state on the legacy of the 2018 Offa bank robbery, linking the incident to the leadership of former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking with journalists during a visit to Oke-Ode, the governor accused Saraki of “playing politics with security” and urged him to take responsibility for the tragic robbery incident that claimed 33 lives before criticising the current administration.

> “It was under PDP. Bukola Saraki bears a court statement that he is the leader of PDP in Kwara. Under his leadership, 33 people were killed in one day,” AbdulRazaq said in a viral video.

The governor further alleged that the armed gang behind the deadly robbery were Saraki’s loyalists, claiming they used “Aso Ebi of Saraki’s wedding” and vehicles branded with his name during the operation. He maintained that the PDP lacked the moral authority to challenge his government’s efforts in tackling insecurity.

In September 2024, a Kwara State High Court delivered judgement on the case, sentencing five suspects to death by hanging after finding them guilty of armed robbery and culpable homicide.
The convicts — Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham — were part of the gang responsible for the massacre.

Meanwhile, several communities in Kwara South and Central, including Oke-Ode, Patigi, and Marri, continue to suffer repeated attacks by armed gangs, leading to rising fear among residents and mass displacement from rural areas.