Ayah Paul Abine, the outspoken Rassemblement démocratique du peuple camerounais (RDPC) member of parliament for South West province, has officially declared his intention to stand in the upcoming presidential election. The ruling party's constitution stipulates that the national chairman of the party, currently Mr Biya, is automatically its presidential candidate; however, Mr Ayah Paul has claimed that an ordinary congress, during which the leader of the party will be elected, is "imminent", referring to a recent statement by the secretary-general of the RDPC, René Emmanuel Sadi. Internal elections in the ruling party have in the past been criticised for being rigged, and Mr Sadi, together with other party leaders, has repeatedly said that the party remains united behind Mr Biya's candidacy. Mr Ayah's bid to become RDPC candidate is unlikely to succeed, and although his regular critiques of the regime's policies-such as the unpopular 2008 constitutional amendment-have won him plaudits among his constituents, he will not pose a serious challenge even if he decides to form his own party.