Tidjane Thiam, the designated presidential candidate for the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) in the upcoming October 25, 2025 election, has been officially removed from the electoral roll. The decision was handed down on Tuesday, April 22, by the Abidjan-Plateau Court of First Instance.
Responding firmly, the PDCI leader condemned the ruling as “unjust, unfounded, and incomprehensible.” In his view, the removal is a clear attempt by those in power to sideline their main political opponent through a legally questionable decision. “The regime has simply eliminated, under the guise of a judicial process, its most serious rival,” he stated, accusing the authorities of disguising a political maneuver as a legal action.
According to Thiam, his exclusion is the result of a deliberate strategy orchestrated by activists from the ruling RHDP party, aided by regime-affiliated lawyers and presided over by judges appointed by the government. He denounced what he describes as a well-oiled mechanism, symptomatic of a troubling democratic backslide.
He placed the decision within a particularly tense political climate, notably marked by the controversial third term of outgoing President Alassane Ouattara—whose legitimacy, he argues, remains heavily disputed. “Some rumors even suggest the possibility of a fourth term, further casting doubt on the strength of our democracy,” he said.
Expressing concern over rising tensions, Thiam warned: “I fear our country is once again on the brink of a crisis,” recalling Côte d’Ivoire’s painful history of electoral unrest.
In the face of what he sees as a grave injustice, Thiam called for both national and international mobilization to defend a fundamental right: that of every Ivorian to freely choose their president. “This is about our dignity,” he declared.
Despite being struck from the electoral list, Tidjane Thiam remains resolute: “I am fully determined to challenge this decision.” He affirmed that the PDCI stands united behind him and that no alternative candidate would be considered. “There will be no Plan B, no Plan C,” he insisted, urging his supporters to stay mobilized.