Echoing his stance from 2018, Robert Bapooh Lipot, leader of one of the many factions of the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC), has once again endorsed Paul Biya for the upcoming presidential election in October 2025. Lipot, a former deputy, made this announcement on April 10 during a meeting in Boumnyébel, in the Nyong-et-Kelle department, which marked the 76th anniversary of the UPC. A journalist familiar with the party noted, “This was anticipated as, for Lipot, the UPC doesn’t need to search for a candidate. Paul Biya is his natural choice.”

While this endorsement might not come as a surprise to the public, it has certainly taken other faction leaders aback. Earlier this month, most of these leaders convened in Douala for a consultation regarding the 2025 presidential election. They agreed to present a united front in 2025 to avoid the divisiveness of the previous election, where Lipot endorsed Biya, Habiba Issa backed Akere Muna, and Michel Eclador Pekoua supported Maurice Kamto.

Despite Lipot’s declaration, Michel Eclador Pekoua remains optimistic about the unity project’s viability. A small group of activists from various factions, known as Le Labo, is currently evaluating the feasibility of the party fielding a candidate. However, some senior UPC members believe this option is unlikely to succeed due to budgetary constraints for a presidential campaign and uncertainty over unanimous support for the chosen candidate.

If this first option is discarded, Le Labo will consider two other possibilities: aligning with one of the opposition coalitions or endorsing Paul Biya. Pekoua asserts that both options are viable and announces that the final decision will be revealed on April 10, 2025.

Michel Ange Nga