By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
On August 23, the CDU secured a legal victory against the FSNC of Tchiroma over the color of ballot paper in the upcoming Presidential Elections. the FSNC filed a case against CDU (Cameroon Democratic Union) of using its color (yellow).
Although the lawyers for the FSNC did not appear before the Council, the lawyer for the CDU, Chief Barrister Ndong Christopher, defended his client. He presented facts explaining why the UDC uses the yellow color on its ballot paper.
He argued that the CDU is one of the oldest political parties in Cameroon, and the FSNC—created roughly 16 years later—cannot claim ownership of the color yellow. The CDU was created on April 26, 1991, under MINAT decision 133/D/MINAT of April 26, 1991, while the FSNC was created by decision 0064/D/MINAT/DAP/SDCP/SPP on March 21, 2007.
He added that before the FSNC’s creation, the CDU participated in the 1992 and 2004 Presidential Elections using the same logo, emblem, and color that its candidate, Njoya, is using in 2025.
He further stated that, curiously, Issa Tchiroma was the campaign manager for the CDU under the late Dr. Adamu Ndam Njoya during the 2004 election, which used the same emblem and color.
Barrister Ndong questioned how Tchiroma’s party, created in 2007, could make this claim after it had switched to the CPDM for the 2011 and 2018 elections, only to emerge now and allege color theft.
Citing the pertinent provision of Section 131(2) of Law No. 2012/001 of April 19, 2012, of the electoral code (as amended by Law no. 2012/017 of December 21, 2012), Barrister Ndong argued the case was invalid.
Based on the facts presented, the Council found the FSNC’s petition was time-barred and dismissed it. In addition, the case was also rejected because of late submission.
Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya is the flag bearer of the CDU party for the October 2025 Presidential Elections in Cameroon.
