As Cameroon edges closer to the October 12 presidential election, Hiram Samuel Iyodi, the presidential candidate of the Front for Democratic Change (FDC), brought his campaign message to the streets of Buea, capital of the South West Region.
In a striking pledge, Iyodi told supporters and press that if elected, he would ensure that separatist fighters lay down their weapons within the first 100 days of his mandate. His bold promise sought to directly address the Anglophone crisis, a conflict that has plagued Cameroon’s English-speaking regions for nearly a decade.
“Peace will return to our towns and villages. Within 100 days, the guns will be silent, and dialogue will replace violence,” Iyodi declared, to the applause of residents who lined the streets to greet him.
Low-Key but Personal Campaign
Compared to the high-energy campaign of fellow opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who also passed through Buea earlier that same day, Iyodi’s outing was described as low-key. Instead of grand rallies, he opted for a street-level walk, mingling with the population and engaging them face to face.
This approach appeared to resonate with locals, many of whom expressed excitement at meeting a presidential hopeful in person. “It felt different,” one Buea resident remarked. “He walked among us and spoke to us directly. We want peace, and if he can bring it, we will support him.”
A Direct Challenge to CPDM Stronghold
Iyodi’s campaign stop in Buea was also significant given the CPDM’s deep roots in the South West Region, particularly Fako Division. The ruling party has long enjoyed dominance here, bolstered by the presence of Prime Minister Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, who hails from Ndian Division in the same region.
By promising rapid solutions to the Anglophone crisis, Iyodi sought to position himself as a credible alternative to the ruling party, whose handling of the conflict has been widely criticized. His campaign also emphasized dialogue, reconciliation, and national healing as the cornerstone of his leadership vision.
The Road Ahead
With only a week left before Cameroonians head to the polls, Iyodi faces an uphill task of transforming his modest but personal campaign style into nationwide momentum. Yet, his promise of ending the Anglophone crisis in record time has already sparked conversations and earned him attention in a region where peace remains the most pressing demand.
Whether this bold commitment can shift political loyalties in a CPDM stronghold remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: in the streets of Buea, on October 5, the FDC candidate gave residents a rare chance to imagine a future without war.
