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Death rumour of President Biya ignites fear, confusion in Cameroun
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As story of possible death continue to circulate about the health of the Cameroonian president, Cameroon’s Paris-based diplomat André Magnus Ekoumou says Biya is in Geneva.
For nearly a month, the health of Paul Biya, 91, has been the subject of widespread speculation, as the Cameroonian president has successively cancelled appearances at the United Nations General Assembly, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) summit, and the Sustainable Development forum in Hamburg, Germany.
While the Cameroonian diaspora was mobilising in the Paris suburbs, where Paul Biya was allegedly hospitalised at the Percy military hospital in Clamart, the rumours reached a new peak on 8 October with the broadcast, by South African channel ABS Africa TV, of the announcement of the head of state’s death.
● A “completely baseless piece of news”
Contacted by Jeune Afrique on 8 October, André Magnus Ekoumou, Cameroon’s ambassador to France, stated, however, that “Paul Biya has never been hospitalised in Clamart or anywhere in France”.
Expressing his displeasure at the spread of rumours, the diplomat also confirmed the information that the president “is currently in Geneva”.
He added that the head of state is “in good health”, while some of our sources close to the presidency have indicated that he is currently under medical supervision after complications caused by his diplomatic activity in July and August.
From Yaoundé, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, also took to his X account to address the rumours of the president’s death. “Those who are trying, by various means, to deceive public opinion by announcing the death of the Cameroonian head of state must pay a high price for such a gross lie. Since they no longer have any human conscience, the appropriate institutions must take action against these impostors, no matter their origin or location. We are in a democracy, but malice and hatred have their limits!” he declared.
● ‘Baseless news’
Jacques Fame Ndongo, Secretary for Communications of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement and Minister of Higher Education, also penned a statement, in his own characteristic style: “This news is completely baseless. This phantasmagorical scheme must not shake the political maturity, clear-headedness, and patriotism of Cameroonians and our friends. Universal journalism relies on facts, not on fantasies or malicious news. It follows a rigorous approach inspired by experimental sciences, including observation, hypothesis, verification, and law, as Gaston Bachelard pointed out. Journalism is both an art, a technique, and a science.”
A segment of the political class called, on 8 October, for clarification from the civil cabinet of the presidency, led by Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, regarding the president’s true health status and the possibility of a vacancy of power. Noting the “prolonged absence” of Paul Biya and urging Cameroonians to “remain sufficiently cautious and vigilant,” the Cameroon Democratic Union, headed by MP Hermine Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya, called on the presidency, the government, or “any other competent institution […] to take responsibility by providing official information to the people.” [the African report )
The Accord Party has won the governorship election at the polling unit of former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
According to the result sheet uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IReV portal, Accord polled 125 votes to emerge victorious at the polling unit.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) came second with 85 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured five votes.
The African Action Congress (AAC) scored two votes, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Progressive Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) each recorded one vote.
Other parties, including the AA, ADP, APGA, APM, APP, BP, NNPP and PRP, recorded no votes.
The result sheet showed that 228 voters were accredited, with 220 valid votes cast and eight rejected ballots.
The election was conducted at Court Hall I, Okuku, in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
The result comes against the backdrop of Oyinlola’s reported endorsement of the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the election.
Oyinlola, who governed Osun State from 2003 to 2010, had publicly backed Oyebamiji despite the APC candidate running against incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The outcome at Oyinlola’s polling unit therefore puts the Accord Party ahead of the APC, with Adeleke’s party failing to secure the unit despite the incumbent governor’s participation in the election.
Voting was disrupted in Ejigbo, Osun State, after violence broke out at a polling unit during the ongoing Osun State Governorship election.
It was gathered that voters, residents and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fled the polling unit as tension escalated around the area.
According to Channels TV, people were seen running in different directions while motorcycles and vehicles moved through the area as residents attempted to escape the unfolding situation.
The immediate cause of the violence was not clear, as the chaos temporarily halted the ongoing electoral process.
The incident comes as voters come out in their numbers to partake in governorship election amid tight security.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday has given a blow by blow account of the ongoing governorship election process in Osun State.
According to the electoral umpire, voting commenced smoothly across the south-west, with 3,556 of the state’s 3,763 polling units opened as of 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
INEC made this claim in a post on its official 𝕏, while giving an update on the conduct of the governorship election.
The commissioner further stated that the figure of the polling units that opened as of 8;30 am represents 94.5 per cent of the total polling units in the state.
It said the remaining 207 polling units, representing 5.5 per cent, experienced minor delays but had all become operational by 9 a.m.
INEC made this claim in a post on its official 𝕏, while giving an update on the conduct of the governorship election.
The commissioner further stated that the figure of the polling units that opened as of 8;30 am represents 94.5 per cent of the total polling units in the state.
It said the remaining 207 polling units, representing 5.5 per cent, experienced minor delays but had all become operational by 9 a.m.
The electoral body further said the Registration Area Centre (RAC) activation exercise for the election was completed at 6:09 p.m. on Friday.
INEC said, “RAC activation was successfully completed (100%) at 6:09 p.m. yesterday in preparation for the Osun State Governorship Election.”
INEC described the deployment and opening process as peaceful and orderly.
The RAC activation and polling unit opening processes were conducted in a peaceful, orderly, and timely manner,” INEC said.
Naija News understands that incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party (A), while the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate is Bola Oyebamiji, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate is Najeem Salaam, and several others are challenging him.
Osun election: Oyinlola Loses Polling Unit to Accord Party
Osun election: INEC officials take to their heels as violence erupts in Ejigbo
Osun DECIDES: INEC gives blow by blow account of ongoing election
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