Cameroon’s Constitutional Council on Thursday dismissed eight petitions seeking partial or total annulment of the 12 Oct. presidential election, citing insufficient evidence of irregularities or a lack of jurisdiction, and said it will announce the official result on Monday.
Protests have swept major cities as opposition supporters allege ballot-stuffing and other flaws. Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 76, has declared himself the winner with about 55% based on returns he says cover roughly 80% of voters, refusing to file complaints with a council whose judges were appointed by President Paul Biya.
Biya’s ruling party rejected Tchiroma’s claim as illegal, noting only the Constitutional Council can proclaim results. Biya, 92, has ruled for 43 years and held just one campaign rally.
The Catholic Church urged judges to ensure the verdict reflects voters’ will. Tensions are rising amid fears of post-election violence in a country already strained by an Anglophone separatist conflict and a Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North.