Published by the Standard 13th November 2025 page 14
My article was also published by the Star on 12th November but they gave he wrong name as the author, I have appealed for remedy
Charles Dunbar Burgess King a presidential candidate for the True Whig Party during the 1927 Presidential elections in Liberia was sweating it out against Thomas Jefferson Richelieu Faulkner of the Peoples Party. Interestingly, the registered voters were 19,000 and T.J. Faulkner garnered a whopping 9,000 votes (47.4%). However, in the Kenyan style ‘’Tharaka Nithi Moment’’, C.D.B. King, pulled a surprise win with a humongous figure of 230,000 votes out of 19,000 (1,211%). In the previous 1923 elections, he had garnered (115%) so this was a very ‘’impressive fraudulent performance.’’ Hilarious but real, laughable but sad.
Over the years, Africa has witnessed great electoral scandals emanating from compromised and incompetent Election Management Bodies (EMBs), tyranny and despotism, low voter literacy, corruption, vested international machinations and a culture of impunity.
The recent presidential election results in Tanzania and Cameroon have left many wondering whether the culture initiated by C.B.D. King in 1927 would ever soon end. Samia Suluhu and her Chama Cha Mapinduzi despite earlier signs of dictatorship and highhandedness, Tanzania got into elections in a climate of intimidation and intolerance for divergent opinion. The opposition luminary and perhaps the man representing the cry for hope and reforms, was thrown into the gallows with trumped up but very grave accusations of plotting a ‘’coup’’ to de-sit the CCM from power. The CCM mandarins were scared and the only and the best thing they could do was to draft charges of treason. His deputy too is fighting for his life and freedom in prison on charges of terrorism. If convicted, Tundu Antipas Lissu and John Heche could face the hangman and I trust the cold-hearted mademoiselle can easily sign their death warrants. In April 2025, the only other credible candidate, Luhaga Mpina of the Alliance for Change and Transparency was barred from contesting.
In the footsteps of C.D.B. King, mademoiselle Suluhu won with a whopping 98% leaving the rest of the 16 candidates to divide amongst themselves 3% of the remaining ballot results with the first runners garnering 0.66% and the last 0.02% in an election that recorded 82% turn out despite the deadly street election motivated street brawls and boycotts that day. Who can believe in this madness, even thieving requires some wisdom and con decorum. Tanzania presidency is a complete ‘’self-contained’’ absolute monarchy. The Presidency in Tanzania as many in Africa is vested with the full executive authority. As the head of government and cabinet, the Presidents chair the Cabinet and appoints all ministers, Chief Justice, High Court and Supreme Court judges, ambassadors, the Attorney General, the Controller and Auditor-General, and various board members of public parastatals and inquiry commissions. It would be foolhardy to compete with people of such stature in an election.
Alassane Dramane Ouattara, 83 year old dictator in Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivore) made history in his country by garnering 3,759,030 (91%) contesting under the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) Partyagainst his closest (sic) challenger, Jean-Louis Billon who scored 129,4393 (3%) of the total vote. RHDP is based on the ideologies of the first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny who died at the age of 83 years after misruling the country for over a quarter decade. Despite the local international clamor, Alassane has been confirmed and sworn at the president for the next 7 years until 2033.
In Cameroon, Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo, a 92-year-old octogenarian who runs the country from foreign lands despite his frailty in health, energy and mental mettle, won the elections with 54% margin against the opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma of the Cameroon National Salvation Front who finished second with 35% of the vote. Interestingly, his daughter in a shocking move warned Cameroonians against voting for her father noting that he was not in control of the country. They never listened but trusted the wisdom of equally tired octogenarians who run the show in Cameroon within the electoral management body, judiciary and legislature. Apparently, 82 candidates had listed to challenge Paul Biya but despite of over 35 appeals, the race was trimmed to 12 candidates. Despite the deadly protests after the results were announced, Paul Biya incoherently murmured his acceptance speech and probably flew back to his cool abode abroad.
In December 2025, a number of interesting political contests for presidency are in the offing. President Kais Saied of Tunisia won the 2024 election with 90.69% disputed votes amid claims of repression, as many strong opposition figures were barred from participating or jailed. The Central Africa Republic (CAR) will have the incumbent, Faustin-Archange Touadéra who got into power through a ‘farce’ election in 2020 amidst violence by rebels and boycott from the opposition. Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya of the Guinea, a military ruler is expected to allow democratic elections but there is worry because like his counterpart, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya who replaced another military Junta, Yahya Jammeh might want to convolute the electoral process and remain in power.
In the neighboring Uganda, campaigns are in top gear with the incumbent, despot and frail National Resistance Movement seemingly is running against his shadow as the key opposition leader; Kizza Besigye is rotting in prison over trumped up charges and the other main challenger, Bobi Wine running his campaign under a difficult terrain of state violence. Most likely, the Uganda elections in January 2026 will be another sham process.
In 2026, Kenya will be at the highpoint of political campaigns in an environment that will be a remarkable sight especially after the death of the key opposition figure, Raila ‘Tinga’ Odinga who has been a key factor in Kenyan elections and a moment of disjointed ‘united opposition. Tanzania elections was the heats, Uganda will be the semi-finales and the Grand Finale will be in Kenya.
Unless we shed the irrational approach and respect electoral processes, we can as well abolish elections in Africa and go back to fiefdoms and monarchs.
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