Bar. Akere Muna, Candidate for Cameroon’s Presidential election

As the Constitutional Council prepares to examine the petition filed by Barrister Akere Muna challenging the eligibility of President Paul Biya, one fundamental question hovers over Cameroon’s political arena: Will the Council apply the law as written, or will act on political sentiments?

Since its creation, the Constitutional Council has often been accused of functioning less as a guardian of the Constitution and more as a shield for the regime.In the 2018 presidential election, political groups that opposed the winner claimed there were many problems. They said things weren’t fair, including that some people allegedly put extra fake ballots into the boxes and that the final vote counts didn’t add up correctly. Every single one of these petitions was dismissed without consideration, fueling widespread perception that the Council was acting to protect Biya’s hold on power rather than upholding the law.

This reputation has only hardened over time. In the public eye, the Council is not an impartial arbiter of justice but rather an extension of the ruling party’s machinery.

Akere Muna’s petition is not an ordinary political maneuver, it is a direct legal challenge to Biya’s eligibility under Article 118 of the Electoral Code, which bars candidates who have placed themselves in a situation of dependence incompatible with independent leadership. The petition documents Biya’s prolonged absences, his governance by proxy, and his reliance on unelected officials to exercise presidential functions.

The law is clear: if proven, these conditions constitute grounds for ineligibility. The real issue is whether the Council will rule strictly on the law or act on sentiments to preserve the status quo.

If the Constitutional Council rules in favor of the petition, it would mark a historic turning point in Cameroon’s democratic journey. It would demonstrate that no leader is above the Constitution and that the rule of law can prevail over political convenience. Such a decision could restore some credibility to an institution many citizens currently view with skepticism.

On the other hand, if the Council dismisses the petition without serious evidence, it will reinforce the belief that Cameroon’s justice system bends to emotions, fears, and loyalties rather than to constitutional principles.