As Cameroon continues to await the official proclamation of the 12 October presidential election results, two leading opposition figures Cabral Libii of the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN) and Joshua N. Osih of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) have both withdrawn their petitions challenging the conduct of the polls.
The twin withdrawals, coming within 48 hours of each other, signal a major turn in the post-election atmosphere, as the Constitutional Council concludes hearings and prepares to deliver its final ruling in the coming days.
In a letter dated 17 October 2025 and addressed to the President of the Constitutional Council, Hon. Cabral Libii confirmed that two separate petitions with one filed by his legal representatives and another signed personally had been lodged on 15 October. Both had sought the partial annulment of the presidential election over alleged irregularities.
However, the PCRN candidate has now requested that both submissions be formally withdrawn and the proceedings closed. The letter, bearing his signature and the official seal of the PCRN, was issued from the party’s headquarters in Yaoundé. Cabral Libii cited procedural considerations for his decision, stressing the need for institutional closure as the country awaits the Constitutional Council’s final pronouncement.
A day later, SDF candidate Hon. Joshua N. Osih followed suit. In a similar letter dated 18 October 2025, Osih informed the Constitutional Council of his decision to withdraw his petition, which had been registered under No. 230 on 15 October.
The SDF petition had raised serious concerns, including:
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the exclusion of party representatives from several polling stations;
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the failure to replace SDF delegates in more than 13,000 polling centres, contrary to electoral regulations;
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the relocation of polling stations to non-traditional venues such as palaces and military barracks; and
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alleged irregularities and fraud, particularly in the North West and South West Regions.
While Osih did not give detailed reasons for his withdrawal, he urged the Constitutional Council to record the decision and close the case. His letter was received and officially registered by the Secretariat-General of the Constitutional Council on 20 October 2025.
Both moves come as the National Commission for the General Census of Votes concluded its examination of returns from all ten regions and the diaspora. Its final report is expected to be presented to the Constitutional Council for deliberation ahead of the official proclamation of results, as required by the Electoral Code.
The twin withdrawals have been interpreted by some analysts as a gesture of restraint and a bid to preserve national calm amid growing anticipation. With the petitions withdrawn, the Constitutional Council now has a partially cleared path to finalise its report and announce the winner of Cameroon’s 2025 presidential race a moment the nation awaits with bated breath.
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By Hilltopvoices Newsroom
