POLITICAL ANALYSIS | A Shameful Retreat: Why Have Cabral Libii and Joshua Osih Suddenly Withdrawn Their Appeals?

[YAOUNDÉ, Oct. 22, 2025 — Cameroon Concord Political Desk.]
In a move that has left supporters stunned and democracy-watchers speechless, two opposition figures — Cabral Libii of the PCRN and Joshua Osih of the SDF — have quietly withdrawn their petitions from the Constitutional Council.

Their decisions come at the exact moment when Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s campaign is publicly dismantling the regime’s fraud narrative with original procès-verbaux (PVs) from across Cameroon.

A Sudden Silence as Transparency Rises

Only days ago, both men were shouting “rigging” and “manipulation” — calling for partial annulment of results and claiming massive irregularities.
But as the FSNC candidate began releasing the original signed PVs showing his decisive lead — in regions like Wouri (78.3%), Vina (59.6%), Mfoundi (57.4%), and Menoua (68.7%) — the two men’s voices suddenly vanished.

On October 17, Cabral Libii, through an official letter from his Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN), notified the Constitutional Council of his withdrawal from the appeal process.
Barely 24 hours later, Joshua Osih of the SDF followed suit, sending a nearly identical notice on October 18, formally retracting his earlier motion of annulment.

Their timing could not have been more suspicious.

From Outcry to Capitulation

In their initial appeals, both candidates alleged “massive irregularities” — ballot stuffing, exclusion of party agents, falsified tallies, and intimidation.
Yet in their withdrawal letters, they provided no new evidence and no justification for the sudden reversal.

“We withdraw our petition before the Council,” reads Osih’s letter, “and request it be considered closed.”

Meanwhile, Cameroon Concord’s analysis of the PVs published by the Tchiroma campaign reveals overwhelming evidence of his nationwide lead. Each department’s data matches videos, photos, and tallies filmed by voters themselves — confirming what independent observers and analysts already saw on October 12: the people voted for change.

This leaves one unavoidable question:
If transparency is now available, why abandon the fight for truth?

Were They Ever Serious?

Both Libii and Osih previously claimed to have deployed party representatives “in nearly every polling station” across the country.
Yet, to date, neither has produced a single polling station report to challenge or corroborate the citizen-verified PVs now circulating online.

Instead of joining the movement for electoral transparency, they have chosen silence — even as Cameroon Concord and other outlets publish the full PV archives department by department.
To many Cameroonians, this reeks of betrayal.

“They called for justice, then fled when truth arrived,” said a political observer in Douala. “You cannot claim to defend democracy and then retreat when it’s being proven in real time.”

Deals in the Dark: The Smell of Stomach Politics

Between October 15 and 18, both letters were stamped and acknowledged by the Constitutional Council’s secretariat — a suspiciously coordinated withdrawal within 48 hours.
Why the rush? What promises were made behind closed doors?

There is growing speculation that pressure from within the regime — or the promise of future political rewards — may have prompted their retreat.
Critics point to Cameroon’s long history of “politique du ventre” (stomach politics), where moral conviction often collapses under the weight of personal gain.

“If you withdraw without defending your evidence, you were never fighting for justice — you were negotiating your comfort,” said one senior analyst at the Cameroon Concord Political Bureau.

Silence as Complicity

Across social media, outrage is spreading. Many are demanding that Cabral Libii and Joshua Osih explain publicly why they withdrew their petitions at such a decisive hour.
While ordinary citizens face police repression defending their votes, those who once positioned themselves as agents of change now appear content to protect their own careers.

Issa Tchiroma’s campaign, by contrast, has maintained its momentum — releasing original PVs daily, encouraging citizens to verify and audit the results themselves.
As one citizen in Bonamoussadi put it:

“Tchiroma is showing us the truth, while the others are hiding from it.”

The contrast could not be starker.

A Disgrace in the Face of Evidence

For years, Cameroon’s opposition has been accused of fragmentation and self-interest.
The events of this week have given that accusation new life.
By stepping back just when truth is surfacing, Cabral Libii and Joshua Osih have not only failed their supporters — they have strengthened the very system they once vowed to dismantle.

As the Constitutional Council prepares to deliver its verdict, Cameroonians must ask:
Are these men withdrawing because they found no fraud — or because they found comfort?
Is this caution — or cowardice?

In the final analysis, history will judge their silence as complicity.

#CameroonDecides2025 #IssaTchiromaVictory #CameroonConcord #PoliticalDesk #EToudi2025 #DemocracyWatch

Source: Cameroon Concord Political Affairs Desk – Yaoundé Bureau