From ELECAM’s 13 to today’s 12: Fact‑check & timeline

No.	Claim	Fact‑Check	Verdict
1	ELECAM approved 13 presidential candidates on 26 July 2025.	Out of ~83 applications, ELECAM validated only 13 names for the October poll.	✅ True
2	Only the Constitutional Council can alter ELECAM’s list.	The Council hears appeals and its rulings are final.	✅ True
3	35 petitions were filed after ELECAM’s publication.	Challenges came from rejected candidates and party actors contesting approved ones.	✅ True
4	Maurice Kamto was initially approved by ELECAM.	Kamto was never on ELECAM’s list; his appeal for reinstatement failed.	❌ False
5	Hilaire Marcaire Dzipan was approved but later removed.	ELECAM approved him; Constitutional Council struck him off after an internal party challenge.	✅ True
6	Party insiders can challenge their own party’s candidate.	Seen in Moullende vs. Dzipan case.	✅ True
7	Constitutional Council hearings are public.	Held at the Palais des Congrès with open media access.	✅ True
8	There’s another court of appeal after the Constitutional Council.	No further appeal exists; Council’s rulings are final.	❌ False
9	Candidate numbers can still drop before election day.	Technically yes, until 11 August deadline; unlikely now.	✅ True
10	This drop from 13 to 12 is an isolated case.	Part of a wider pattern of exclusions in 2025.	❌ False

Date	Event	Impact on Candidate Count
26 July 2025	ELECAM publishes official list of 13 approved candidates.	13
27–31 July	35 pre‑election petitions filed with Constitutional Council.	13
4 August	Hearings begin at Palais des Congrès; several appeals dismissed.	13
5 August (Morning)	Constitutional Council rejects Kamto’s appeal.	Still 13 (Kamto was never on ELECAM list)
5 August (Afternoon)	Constitutional Council strikes Hilaire Marcaire Dzipan from Progressive Movement.	12
By 11 August	Final candidate list to be published under electoral code.	TBD