2025 presidentials: Biya sued by CPDM ‘errant boy’

The official from the Lekie Division of the Center Region is accusing the CPDM national president of continuously flouting established guidelines, resultantly exposing the political institution to future dangers in the Cameroonian political landscape.

As the nation prepares for the upcoming presidential election, internal tensions within the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, have intensified. CPDM municipal councilor for Monatélé in the Lekie Division, Léon Theiller Onana, has initiated legal proceedings to ensure the party adheres to its statutory obligations. Onana, through his legal representatives, has submitted an urgent request to the Court of First Instance of Yaounde, seeking the appointment of an Ad Hoc Mandatory.

This official would be tasked with convening and setting the agenda for the CPDM’s Ordinary Congress, which has not been held since 2011. According to Onana, the mandates of key governing bodies, including the National President, the Central Committee, and the Political Bureau, have expired and needs to be renewed every after five years. “This is not an act of defiance but a responsible step to prevent any challenges to our party’s legitimacy during the review of candidacies by ELECAM or the Constitutional Council,” Onana stated in his press release that the National Post read through.

He stressed that ensuring statutory compliance is critical for the CPDM’s smooth participation in the presidential election. With the party celebrating its 40^th anniversary, concerns about internal governance and procedural delays have grown. Onana believes immediate action is necessary to avoid legal complications that could undermine the party’s candidacy in the upcoming elections.

 Political analysts suggest that this request may put pressure on the CPDM leadership to convene the long-overdue congress. The party’s Secretary-General, Jean Nkuete, has previously emphasized the importance of a “clear and undisputed” victory for the CPDM in the elections, an objective that could be jeopardized if statutory issues remain unresolved. Onana has urged all party members to rally behind efforts to uphold the CPDM’s credibility and legal standing.

Citing French statesman Georges Clemenceau, he reminded his colleagues, “You must know what you want. And when you know it, you must have the courage to say it; when you say it, you must have the courage to do it.” As legal proceedings unfold, all eyes will be on the CPDM’s leadership to see how they respond to this internal challenge. The outcome of this legal request could shape the party’s path to the presidential elections and determine its readiness to maintain its political dominance in Cameroon.