In a letter addressed to the President of the Electoral Board of Cameroon’s elections management body (ELECAM), Hon. Joshua Osih, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and presidential candidate in the upcoming election, has expressed serious concerns over the location of some polling stations across the country. The said polling stations are placed in locations considered not neutral or conducive for the electorate, and against provisions of the electoral code.
The letter, dated 21 July 2025, highlights alleged breaches of electoral laws and urges immediate corrective measures to ensure a fair and transparent election on 12 October 2025.
Osih’s letter identifies 1,153 polling stations that he says are situated in locations that fail to meet legal standards of neutrality, accessibility, and security as stipulated by Cameroon’s Electoral Code. Among these, 12 polling stations are located in military barracks, while 5 others are within army headquarters, including the Presidency of the Republic, which is now allegedly serving as the campaign headquarters for the ruling CPDM candidate.
The majority of the disputed polling stations—1,141 in total- are established in the residencies of some traditional rulers, and with many of the said traditional rulers acting as militants of the ruling CPDM, the SDF Chairman, like many others, hold that they should be relocated to neutral ground. Osih argues that these locations are not public spaces and are subject to restricted access under customary rules. The regional distribution of these stations shows a heavy concentration in the Centre (546) and Far North (432) regions, with smaller numbers in other areas such as the Littoral (36), South (50), and West (35).
Osih’s letter includes a detailed legal argument asserting that traditional chiefdoms do not qualify as public spaces under Cameroonian administrative law. He cites Decree No. 77/245 of July 15, 1977, which governs the recognition of traditional chiefs, and emphasises that chiefdoms are customary institutions with restricted access, not neutral venues for voting. The SDF leader warns that maintaining polling stations in such locations could undermine the integrity of the electoral process, as these areas are not freely accessible to all voters and may be influenced by local authorities.
Osih has urged ELECAM to relocate all disputed polling stations to public, neutral, and secure locations. He specifically demands the removal of polling stations from military facilities and chiefdoms, stressing that their current placement violates Article 96(4) of the Electoral Code. The letter concludes with a request for ELECAM to communicate the new polling locations promptly to avoid voter confusion on Election Day.
The October 12, 2025, presidential election in Cameroon is expected to be highly contested.
