₦airaland Forum

Supporters of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya have resorted to using his portrait as the centerpiece of his re-election campaign for the October 2025 presidential polls. At 92 years old, Biya’s advanced age and frequent private trips abroad have severely limited his public appearances, leaving his image to stand in for him on the campaign trail.

The unusual sight of campaigning with portraits has fueled speculation about his health and drawn comparisons to fictional scenarios where a leader remains in power despite being visibly absent. Biya currently holds the record as the world’s oldest head of state and is Africa’s second-longest-serving leader.

For years, his health has been the subject of quiet debate, especially whenever he disappears from public view for extended periods, often while in Geneva, Switzerland. Yet, such discussions remain tightly controlled. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), which dominates state media, has banned public talk about the president’s health, declaring it a matter of national security.

Campaigning on Biya’s behalf is largely managed through social media and official statements coordinated by his cabinet. His inner circle remains committed to securing his re-election, a strategy widely seen as a way to prevent a destabilizing power struggle within the ruling party. With no clear successor in sight, many Cameroonians—particularly younger citizens—feel politically sidelined and voiceless.

The president’s prolonged stay in power has fueled frustration among opposition figures and ordinary citizens alike. Critics argue that his advanced age and long absences have slowed down the nation’s development and weakened democratic governance.

Biya’s decision to contest again has also triggered cracks within his once-loyal base. Some former allies and ministers have broken away, declaring their intention to run against him. Adding to the tension, his daughter, Brenda Biya, reportedly took to social media to call on citizens not to re-elect her father, openly criticizing his decades-long grip on power.

The reliance on portraits rather than the president himself to drive the campaign underscores his role as what many now call an “absentee president.” It also reflects the tightly controlled political climate that has enabled him to cling to power for decades, even with limited public presence.

Watch the video:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BshD_B03uI?si=DrUIRfvLkCtkH0Jg

Cameroonians are on a looooong thing!

The otumokpo wen Dem use hold Dem strong die.

And na only virgin go fit to break am, and thats hard to find these days, so they're in for a longer thing.

See as Dem dey carry picture like gal wen dey marry abroadian wen never get paper.

Summary:
Supporters of 92-year-old Cameroonian President Paul Biya are campaigning for his re-election with only his portrait, as health issues keep him away. His long absences, tight control of state media, and lack of a clear successor have fueled anger, with critics — including his daughter Brenda Biya — opposing his decades-long rule.

Africa o.....not enough content kee Seun, add your own character please

Nigeria and Cameroon give you a typical case in political studies, where loyalties to ethnic/regional politics help in an overwhelming way to undermine the peoples abilities to make any sort of revolutionary changes towards the leaderships of their countries..

The problem with Cameroon is not necessarily Biya. The problem is the regional confrontations between the English speaking parts of Cameroon and the French speaking parts of the same country. The differences between these two groups have stiffened overtime, and have now taken a life of its own. A war is ongoing...

When the English speaking John Fru Ndi came close to chasing out Biya, it was the francophone speakers that felt slighted. They would rather stick with a totally kwarupt Biya, than to go for the English speaking Ndi who came with all sorts of revolutionary targets. In the end, Biya blatantly rigged the elections on the back of the support from his fellow French speakers and responded to the political scare of nearly loosing a presidential elections by entrenching a more pronounced divide between the English speakers and their fellow country men the French speakers.

Change french with Yoruba and English with igbo and you have the same scenario in Nigeria. That is the same. Corrupt officials getting away with vicious kleptomania simply because they're perennially assured of ethnic support every elections cycle. Flawed presidential elections being praised by ethnic jingoists simply because such charade guarantees the presence of someone close to them at the seat of power..
Two neighbours, One waahaalaa..

owobokiri who used to bash Peter Obi when he was governor of Anambra State, calling him all sorts of names. But today, because of tribal affiliation you change mouth begin dey praise Peter Obi because him run for President. What is the difference between you and Biya's supporters. 😂😂😂😂😂

Most Igbos know that Peter Obi was a FAILURE as governor but because of ethnicity they are support him today.

rexchazy:
Africa o.....not enough content kee Seun, add your own character please

Has nothing to do with Africa. You didn't raise this when US elected his age mate, Joe Biden, who kept falling and forgetting things. But for his opposition to Trump, Mitch McConnell, would have been the US Senate Head again despite the fact that he freezes and collapse in public due to old age.

It's lack of information that makes many of you who are uninformed think that the Whites are better than you when Africa is in fact better because the era of the likes of Paul Biya is fast fading in Africa while US, in 2025, still keep electing old people like, Mitch McConnell, Trump and Biden.

Ancestor Biya. His juju must be strong on the Cameroonians

If you take a closer look at the attire and dressing of the people campaigning for this man at 92yrs old, then you will understand the reason why:

Nigeria
Cameroon
Burundi

And all the black African countries are backward and stuck with failed leaders

The funny thing is that another chap will later take over from Biya and do exactly the same thing of ruling for the next 45 years.

They only need the brain too I guess,Africans has failed Africans jaree

African leaders are a curse. They think only about me, myself and i

rexchazy:
Africa o.....not enough content kee Seun, add your own character please

I was expecting this. Just one country and you lumped up the entire continent of 50 countries together

Is that how you draw out your own data

Side by side, i can name more European countries with older(70+years) Presidents than we can ever have in Africa within the same period

Humans like power.

Remember Absalom in the Bible

mariovito:
Cameroonians are on a looooong thing!

The otumokpo wen Dem use hold Dem strong die.

And na only virgin go fit break am, and thats hard to find these days, so they're in for a longer thing.

See as Dem dey carry picture like gal wen dey marry abroadian wen never get paper.

This one pass Tinubu own by far o

Handiwork of his cabal. Biya is done.
But many of the people around him stand to lose if Biya is gone.

This was how APC youth were campaigning for the current president in those days when he was running away from debate including el Rufai kept shielding him from national debate

The national assembly must begin the process of enshrining in our constitution a must do debate for all presidential candidates seeking election today exalted office of the president of the federal Republic of Nigeria

Why was he not in the UN general assembly? The president of the great 😸 country in Africa was missing 😕

Aaaaaaaah.

This can only happen when the brain is inverted.

The African mentality is fully on display....

Why are we black like this?

Are you sure this template is not from Nigeria politicians?

Africans, few people must eat even when the whole country is on fire

Blacks, Arabs, Chinese, Indians and Lebanese are the most heartless being and very wicked

Wow.. Even the clothes they wore says much about them - love for hegemonic government system, like the Fulani of Nigeria.

Na same boat this one's dey with the cornfield people

It's confirmed... Cameron have no humans living in the country

The CPDM banned people from talking or debating on Paul Biya's health status because it's a matter of national security. The same national security mantra that DSS is trying to use to nail Sowore because he called the President a criminal.

The sum total of Africa's mess...!

The dimwitted mentality of a sycophantic majority.


Maybe the African Negro is truly CURSED!