A response to electoral nuances and a clearance to misunderstandings linked to the electoral conduct is what describes the statements of the Minister of Territorial Administration during his meeting with electoral stakeholders in Douala on September 24, 2025. In a bid to ensure safety and security for the October 12 presidential elections, Atanga Nji Paul held a security evaluation meeting with the Governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, senior divisional officers, divisional officers, security forces and ELECAM officials of the region, where he clarified some issues of conflict which he termed as « confusion ». These stretches are issues of a consensus candidate, accreditation of election observers and the position of ELECAM vis-à-vis the role of administrative authorities.
On the aspect of a consensus candidate, the minister said, « There is another confusion that we must avoid. We have 12 candidates officially declared to participate in the presidential elections, so in all polling stations we have 12 ballot papers representing all the candidates. The private arrangements that people would do left and right so that there is one candidate or a unique candidate or a candidate of consensus have nothing to do with ELECAM.’ If you have the intention to desist or support a candidate, this should have been done before the printing of ballot papers… so the private arrangements that people do in the quarter have nothing to do with ELECAM or with the administration.’ Minister Atanga Nji reiterated.

He further stressed that candidates should promote republican values, avoid irresponsible public pronouncements, abide by the rules and regulations, stop hate speech and tribalism and portray responsible behaviour. He warned candidates who have a hidden agenda and those who defy state authority would face the law. All candidates have to use the code of conduct made available by ELECAM.
On the issue of accreditation of election observers, the minister underlined, « The Ministry of Territorial Administration is the sole organ to grant accreditation, » warning civil society organisations acting in this regard as working contrary to the law.

He emphasised that ELECAM is an independent organisation charged with material provisions of the elections; meanwhile, the administration is there to accompany the process. Administrative authorities have to reinforce all security operations while ensuring full participation of voters. The administrative authorities are to ensure that the ballots are in all the polling stations throughout the 360 subdivisions.
He called on journalists covering the elections to stay away from professional misconduct which can inflame the public.
Talking about the stakes of winning an election, MINAT’s boss said, « You cannot have a political representation in 5 divisions out of 58, and you think that you can win the presidential elections. You cannot have your political representation limited in 30 subdivisions out of 360, and you pretend that you can win the presidential elections, so just to participate is already something very important. »
Describing the presidential election as « the mother of all elections », he noted that the wish of President Paul Biya is to make sure that the elections would reinforce the existing national unity and peaceful coexistence.