The streets of Maroua had been decorated with party banners and security reinforced to welcome the Head of State.
President Paul Biya’s campaign visit to Maroua on October 6, 2025, was expected to be a moment of political consolidation for the CPDM candidate ahead of the presidential election. Instead, the event unexpectedly turned into a display of popular support for opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, candidate of the Union for Change 2025 coalition. The streets of Maroua had been decorated with party banners and security reinforced to welcome the Head of State.
Schools in the city were instructed to release students early so they could join the rally in large numbers, a common practice during campaign season. Thousands of young people, dressed in their uniforms, poured into the streets to give the appearance of strong mobilization for the CPDM. Yet as the presidential convoy advanced and the rally unfolded, the mood shifted. Instead of cheering for Paul Biya, many students and youths began chanting in favor of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a native of the Far North and one of the main opposition figures in this year’s race.
What was meant to be a show of CPDM strength quickly turned into a spontaneous demonstration of support for the Union for Change 2025 candidate. Observers noted that the scene highlighted both the weariness of the population toward the ruling party and the growing popularity of Issa Tchiroma Bakary in his home region. The chants and banners raised in his name gave the impression that Maroua, traditionally considered a CPDM stronghold, could become a decisive battleground in the upcoming election.
The episode underscored the unpredictability of the campaign. What was supposed to be a carefully orchestrated rally for the incumbent instead revealed cracks in the ruling party’s ability to control the narrative, particularly among the youth who make up a large portion of the electorate.
By Saju Linda
