Yaounde, Dec 4 (NationPress) The ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) has emerged victorious in the regional elections conducted last Sunday, based on the provisional results provided by regional supervisory commissions.

The initial figures unveiled on Wednesday reveal that the CPDM claimed the majority of the contested regional council seats across 58 divisional headquarters of the nation, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

"This is an outstanding victory and clearly demonstrates that the people of Cameroon have faith in the CPDM," commented Nick Ngwanyam, a prominent party official.

Under Cameroon's Electoral Code, political parties have the right to submit petitions for partial or complete annulment of the election activities in appropriate courts, after which the final results will be announced.

Having conducted its first regional election in 2020, Cameroon has positioned these elections as a vital aspect of its decentralization strategy. The regional councils across the country's 10 regions function as legislative bodies for regional matters.

The voting for these elections took place on November 30, with officials from the national electoral authority, Elections Cameroon, stating that the voting process in 58 divisional headquarters commenced "smoothly."

On November 3, however, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, Cameroon's Minister of Communication, denounced violent protests and civil disobedience following the elections, pledging that effective measures would be implemented to restore peace.

Sadi, who also serves as the government spokesperson, indicated that the violent demonstrations subsequent to the October 12 presidential election resulted in significant property damage and looting.

"Individuals responsible for these disturbances, caught in the act of their crimes, have been apprehended," Sadi stated.

This statement coincided with a civil disobedience initiative led by the opposition, which rendered many streets in the Central African nation deserted at the beginning of the workweek on November 3.

Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who asserted his victory in the election, called for a three-day nationwide "ghost town" protest from November 3-5, urging citizens to remain at home and halt all activities as a form of nonviolent resistance.

Earlier in October, Paul Biya was re-elected as President of Cameroon for an eighth term, garnering 53.66% of the votes, as announced by the country's Constitutional Council.

Bakary, representing the Cameroon National Salvation Front, secured the second position with 35.19% of the votes. More than 4.6 million Cameroonians participated in the voting process out of over eight million registered voters, resulting in a turnout rate of 57.76%, compared to 53.85% in 2018 and 65.82% in 2011.

While announcing the final results, Clement Atangana, President of the Constitutional Council, declared the election to be free and fair.

Biya, aged 92 and in power since 1982, heads the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement.