Cameroon – Presidential Election 2025: UDC’s Tomaino Ndam Njoya Ready to Step Aside

Cameroon’s presidential campaign saw a dramatic shift today as Hon. Tomaino Ndam Njoya, leader of the UDC, announced she is prepared to withdraw from the October 12 race to back a coalition candidate, answering Maurice Kamto’s appeal for opposition unity.

In a statement released Wednesday, Hon. Tomaino Ndam Njoya, president of the Union Démocratique du Cameroun (UDC), declared she is ready to set aside her personal candidacy if doing so would enable a united opposition front in next month’s presidential election.

“I am prepared to withdraw my candidacy if that is the price to pay to offer the Cameroonian people the change they expect and deserve,” she said, echoing growing calls for opposition figures to consolidate behind one candidate.

The announcement comes barely 24 hours after Maurice Kamto, leader of the MRC and excluded from the race by the Constitutional Council, urged the 11 approved opposition candidates to “rise to the occasion” and rally behind one figure or, at minimum, form a solid coalition to maximize their chances against the ruling CPDM.

Political observers say Ndam Njoya’s position is the most significant concession yet in an election season marked by fragmentation among opposition parties. By offering to step down, the UDC leader signals a readiness to prioritize collective change over individual ambition.

“This is not about me, nor about party ego,” she stressed. “It is about Cameroon, about unity, and about opening a new page in our national history.”

The timing of her statement coincides with mounting public pressure for opposition unity. Analysts argue that without consolidation, the opposition risks dispersing votes and handing victory to the ruling CPDM and its 92-year-old candidate Paul Biya, who is seeking yet another term after four decades in power.

Ndam Njoya’s move has been welcomed by sections of civil society, youth groups, and diaspora voices, who view it as an act of political maturity and patriotism. Discussions are now expected between Ndam Njoya and Kamto in the coming hours, a meeting that could prove decisive in shaping the opposition’s strategy heading into October 12.

If her withdrawal materializes, it would leave open the possibility of other candidates following suit, paving the way for either a single opposition flagbearer or a tightly coordinated coalition effort.

Critics of the regime note that the Biya government has historically benefited from opposition disunity, with multiple candidates diluting the anti-incumbent vote. The 2025 race, they argue, is a unique opportunity to break that cycle if leaders can overcome personal rivalries and ideological divides.

For now, Tomaino Ndam Njoya’s declaration has shifted the spotlight squarely onto her peers. Whether they respond in kind—and whether opposition forces can achieve the unity that has long eluded them—remains to be seen.

But one thing is clear: the October 12 election may no longer be business as usual.