In an interview at his home, in the northern city of Garoua, Tchiroma Bakary said he had urged his supporters to defend their votes.
“We will never accept their votes being stolen by anyone,” he said, dressed in a long, flowing white and gold tunic.
The former minister said he was not concerned about being arrested or put in jail, “but I know that I have already won the presidential election”.
“There is no doubt, no shadow of doubt whatsoever. My victory is undeniable,” he said, appearing placid and resolute throughout the conversation.
Tchiroma Bakary said the ruling CPDM party had “their backs against the wall” and could not accept the reality of the vote, and challenged them to show if what he was saying about the election was wrong.
He defended his decision to declare himself himself the winner, insisting that the law “does not prevent us from so doing”.
Tchiroma Bakary has previously said he won the election with about 55% of the vote, based on returns representing 80% of the electorate.
Asked whether he would accept defeat if someone else is declared the winner, he said he would agree “provided the Constitutional Council announces the results that comes from the ballot box, not ballot stuffing”.
Tensions over the delayed announcement of the election results have been growing, sparking fears of post-electoral violence in a country already rocked by a separatist conflict in the Anglophone regions and Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North region.
In Garoua, a general feeling of uncertainty lingers following protests earlier this week. Security forces patrol the streets during the night, although their presence in the day time has decreased.
The highly respected and influential Catholic Church in Cameroon this week urged calm following fears that violence could erupt once official results are declared.
Catholic bishops said they hoped the official result would reflect the will of the electorate, and “nothing will be changed by any authority involved in this exercise”.
