Opposition Condemns Arrest of Aboubakar Ousmane Mey

A High-Profile Arrest

Aboubakar Ousmane Mey, son of a prominent northern dignitary and long-time political actor, was reportedly detained by security forces at his home in Garoua. According to initial reports, his arrest was ordered by the prefect of Bénoué division, citing allegations of “unauthorised assembly” and “incitement to rebellion.”

Local witnesses told Cameroon Concord that Mey had been preparing a mobilisation event to promote closer cooperation between Bello Bouba Maigari and fellow northern candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary. Flyers and banners bearing both men’s images had been printed for what supporters described as “a call for unity in the north.”

UNDP Calls the Arrest “Regrettable”

The Union Nationale pour la Démocratie et le Progrès (UNDP), Bello Bouba’s party, issued a communiqué denouncing the detention as “a regrettable act” and demanding Mey’s immediate release.

“The UNDP regrets this incident and calls for calm,” the statement read, stressing that the party remains committed to “a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic process.” Bello Bouba, the party’s presidential candidate, personally appealed for restraint and urged authorities to clarify the legal grounds for the arrest.

Opposition Front Expands

The Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun (MRC), led by acting president Mamadou Mota, also condemned the arrest, calling it a “grave threat to the serenity of the electoral process.” In a separate communiqué, the MRC described the detention as “a politically motivated act aimed at intimidating and silencing the opposition during a critical phase of the campaign.”

“The abusive use of administrative and security apparatus for political intimidation casts serious doubt on the credibility of the upcoming election,” Mota warned, urging both national and international observers to monitor the situation closely.

Tchiroma Joins the Chorus

From Yaoundé, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, candidate of the Union for Change coalition, added his voice to the condemnation. “Such acts of intimidation and arbitrary arrests are contrary to the spirit of democracy and gravely tarnish the electoral process,” his statement said.

Tchiroma demanded Mey’s “immediate and unconditional release,” warning that “nothing can stop the wind of change already blowing across the nation.” His call for restraint was echoed by civil-society leaders who have begun framing Mey’s detention as symbolic of a wider pattern of political interference.

A Pattern of Pressure

The incident comes amid mounting reports of harassment targeting opposition organisers in the final week before the 12 October poll. Analysts note that Garoua, the capital of the North Region and a political bastion of Bello Bouba, has become a testing ground for the regime’s tolerance of dissent.

Political commentator Nfor Raymond told Cameroon Concord: “The timing is deliberate. Arresting a campaign aide six days before the vote sends a message — not to him, but to every volunteer who thinks they can mobilise freely.”

Calls for De-escalation

Human-rights advocates are urging calm. The Cameroon Bar Association issued a brief statement demanding respect for due process, while local clergy in Garoua have privately appealed for dialogue to prevent unrest.

As of Wednesday morning, Ousmane Mey remained in custody pending formal charges. Government sources declined comment, saying only that “investigations are ongoing.”

With campaign rallies accelerating and tensions rising across the north, the case has become a flashpoint for questions about Cameroon’s democratic maturity — and a reminder that, even on the eve of an election, the line between politics and punishment remains dangerously thin.