This photo taken on July 26, 2025 shows members of the Electoral Board at the Elections Cameroon (Elecam) headquarters in Yaounde, Cameroon. Elections Cameroon (Elecam), the country's electoral body, on Saturday announced that it has provisionally approved 13 candidates out of 83 who applied to run in the presidential race. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

YAOUNDE, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Elections Cameroon (Elecam), the country's electoral body, on Saturday announced that it has provisionally approved 13 candidates out of 83 who applied to run in the presidential race.

The announcement, conveyed by Enow Abrams Egbe, chairperson of the Electoral Board of Elecam, was made in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon.

On the list of the approved candidates were incumbent President Paul Biya, opposition leader Joshua Osih, and two former ministers and allies of Biya, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari.

Hermine Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya was the only female among the 13 approved candidates.

The application file of opposition leader Maurice Kamto was rejected.

According to the country's electoral code, those who have not been approved to contest in the election can appeal to the Constitutional Council within 48 hours.

The presidential election will take place in the Central African country on Oct. 12. ■