By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Cameroon's influential Catholic Church has called for calm as fears grow that violence could erupt once official results from the presidential election are declared, the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) reported on Wednesday.

Opposition candidate and ex-Government Spokesperson Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared himself the winner of the 12th October election, saying he defeated ninety-two(92)-year-old President Paul Biyan who is seeking to extend his forty-three(43) year-rule by seven more years.Tchiroma’s declaration was criticized by both the Government and Biya’s ruling party with several officials describing it as illegal.

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has not yet released the final results,it has until 27 October to declare the winner.

But Tchiroma's defiance and promise to defend what the 76-year-old calls his victory has raised fears of violence in the central African Nation.

In a statement released by the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), Catholic Bishops expressed the need for peace and stability. 

The clerics said they hoped that the official result would reflect the will of the electorate, and “nothing will be changed by any authority involved in this exercise".

The Catholic Church is highly respected and is viewed as a moral voice of the Nation.

“Its statement echoes the sentiments of many, who have urged the Constitutional Council to ensure that the result is not rigged. Some of the Church’s prelates have been outspoken in their criticism of Biya and how he has governed”, reads the BBC report in part.