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Cameroon’s opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared victory in the October 12 presidential election, calling on long-time president Paul Biya to accept defeat after more than four decades in power.

In a video statement posted on Facebook, Tchiroma said his win was “clear” and urged Biya to “accept the truth of the ballot box” to avoid unrest. His claim, however, came before any official results were released by Elections Cameroon or the Constitutional Council, the only body authorized to announce outcomes. Official results are expected by October 26.

Biya’s ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) swiftly rejected Tchiroma’s declaration, saying he lacked verified data from polling stations. The Minister of Territorial Administration warned that any unauthorized release of results would amount to “high treason.”

Tchiroma, 76, a former Biya ally and ex-minister, ran with backing from a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups.

Despite energetic campaigning, most analysts still expect Biya, 92, the world’s oldest president, to secure another term amid a divided opposition and the exclusion of key rivals.

Cameroon, with about 8 million registered voters, operates a single-round system in which the candidate with the most votes wins. The election took place against a backdrop of separatist violence, corruption, and economic hardship in the resource-rich Central African nation.