Paul Biya, wey be di oldest head of state for di world now at 92 years, run again for di position of president. If dem elect am, e fit rule Cameroon reach almost 100 years.

Dis no be di only tin wey dey surprise people. Di man don already rule for over 40 years, wey mean say im time for office don pass di independence history of many countries.

For July, Biya announce for X say im go run again, even though some people dey vex say Cameroon need new ideas wey go fit come only from political change. Im tok say, "Make una no worry, my determination to serve una dey strong pass di challenges wey dey front of us," as im set di tone for im eighth presidential campaign.

Di question now be say, how Cameroon go take accept di idea of new leadership afta Biya don dey di helm of affairs since 1982? Twelve other candidates, including some wey be Biya former allies, dey try to unseat am for dis election wey many people dey see as di turning point for di country.

Di challengers

Among di candidates wey run for dis election, some names dey stand out. Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 76 years old, wey don serve as employment minister and government spokesperson under Biya, don switch side. Im tok say im wan "support di youth" and help dem reduce di frustration wey dem dey face. Im dey run under di Cameroon National Salvation Front, di party wey im form for 2007.

Another big name na Bello Bouba Maigari, wey be Biya former ally and di first Prime Minister for 1982. Dem later get issue, and Maigari run against Biya 10 years later but e no win. Now at 78 years, im dey try again for di presidency.

Cabral Libii, wey be 45 years old and former radio presenter, dey make di biggest noise among di youth. Im dey call imsef part of "new Cameroon" and im finish third for di 2018 election. Joshua Osih, 56 years old, dey lead di Social Democratic Front and im dey promise to end di Anglophone conflict within 100 days if dem elect am.

One person wey no dey di election na Maurice Kamto, wey be Biya strongest challenger for 2018. Di electoral commission no gree make im run afta one faction of im party, di Cameroon Renaissance Movement, put another candidate.

To add drama, Biya daughter, Brenda Biya, wey dey popular for TikTok, don tell Cameroonians make dem no vote for her papa again. She tok say plenty people don "suffer" under im rule. But Biya no dey shake, as im still believe say im be di best person for di job and im wan continue to build on di work wey im don do.

Old warhorse

Cameroon get 7.5 million registered voters out of di 30 million population. Di main tins wey dey worry voters na economy, unemployment, and insecurity. If dem still vote Biya despite di challenges, e go make am di second longest-serving head of state for Africa afta Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea wey don dey office for 43 years.

Political analysts dey tok say Biya sabi adapt well. "Im sabi di political game well well," Dr Therence Atabong Nhuafac tok. But di big question be say, at 92 years, Biya candidacy na steady leadership or proof say change no dey possible for Cameroon?

Cameroonian context

Cameroon, wey dem dey call "Africa in miniature," dey for di crossroads of West and Central Africa. Di country get desert for north, rainforest for south, and big cities in between. With over 250 ethnic groups and plenty languages, di country na cultural melting pot.

Di country gain independence for 1960 under Ahmadou Ahidjo wey rule for 22 years. For 1982, Biya take over as president and since then, im don dey shape di country history. Born for 1933, Biya study law and political science for Paris before im enter civil service. By 1979, im don become Prime Minister, and since then, im don survive coup attempts and separatist insurgency.

Consolidating control

Biya don centralize power well well. Di big sectors of di economy dey under im control. For 2008, dem change di constitution wey remove term limits, so Biya fit remain for power. Supporters dey praise am for maintaining stability, but di economy no dey grow fast. Poverty dey rise and GDP growth dey slow.

Growing frustration Analysts dey warn say di frustration fit lead to bigger problems. As Cameroon prepare for di election, di big question na whether Biya go still hold power or di youth go vote for change.