Presidential hopeful and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), Honourable Joshua Osih, officially submitted his candidacy for the 12 October 2025 presidential election on Thursday 17 July, at the North West Regional Office of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) in Bamenda.
In a move that drew both political and public attention, Hon Joshua Osih arrived at the ELECAM office on foot, completing a 3-kilometre walk from Governor’s to ELECAM. Accompanied by SDF party officials, militants, and a contingent from The Vanguard, the party’s security wing, the walk served as a symbolic gesture to demonstrate his physical fitness and readiness to serve.
“The requirements to run for President do not include a health certificate but I believe Cameroonians deserve to know the health status of those who seek to lead them.” he said
The candidate’s remarks come amid growing national conversation on transparency and leadership, especially as the country prepares for what is expected to be a competitive and closely watched election. Joshua Osih’s public demonstration was widely interpreted as a call for greater accountability and openness among political contenders regarding their capacity to serve.
The SDF later published a statement on its official Facebook page confirming the submission:
“This afternoon, the National Chairman of the SDF, Hon. Joshua Osih, submitted his candidacy file at the Northwest Regional Office of ELECAM. We now await the next step, which is the validation of eligible candidates.”
“Thank you to all the militants who gathered to support our candidate. We continue working together for a better future!” the post added.
Though presidential candidacies are typically submitted in the capital, Hon Osih’s choice of Bamenda for this official step carries strong political significance. The city is historically the birthplace and stronghold of the SDF, founded by the late Ni John Fru Ndi in 1990. Despite being affected by ongoing security challenges linked to the armed conflict in the North West and South West regions, Bamenda remains symbolically important to the party’s identity.
The deadline for submission of candidacies is set for 21 July 2025, after which ELECAM is expected to review and validate the eligibility of candidates in accordance with the Electoral Code.
By Hilltopvoices Newsroom
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