YAOUNDE, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian President Paul Biya cast his ballot Sunday at noon at the Government Primary School Bastos polling station in the capital, Yaounde, as voting continued nationwide.
Speaking to reporters after voting, Biya said he was satisfied with how the election was proceeding in the country. "People need to show proof of maturity and it will be a good thing if there are no injuries or fighting," Biya said.
Biya's main rival and former spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, voted in the northern town of Garoua. "We hope that everything unfolds peacefully. People need to stay and count the votes when voting ends," Tchiroma said.
Joshua Osih of the opposition Social Democratic Front also cast his ballot at Lycee Joss polling station in the country's economic capital, Douala.
Voting was also underway in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, where separatists had vowed to disrupt the vote. Since 2017, separatists have been fighting to create an independent state in the regions.
According to the national electoral body, Elections Cameroon, a total of 8,010,464 people were registered to vote. Polls are scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m. local time. ■
