AN OFFICE of Cameroon’s governing party was set on fire, it reported on Thursday, as tensions rise over fraud allegations in the October 12 presidential election.

Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary claimed victory this week and urged President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest premier at 92, to concede. 

President Biya’s party has rejected Mr Tchiroma’s claim of victory and accused Mr Bakary of trying to disrupt the electoral process. 

The constitutional court is expected to announce the final results by October 26.

Mr Tchiroma alleged on Wednesday that there had been signs of vote tampering, echoing civil society groups’ earlier reports of “several irregularities,” including attempted ballot stuffing.

The office of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement in the western city of Dschang was set ablaze on Wednesday night. Videos of the burning building were shared widely on social media and in local news outlets.

The party’s secretary general, Jean Nkuete, said in a statement it would “initiate legal action against the individuals found guilty of the fire.”

Pockets of protests broke out on Wednesday night in several cities over the allegations of election fraud.

Security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse dozens of protesters in the economic capital, Douala, located in Wouri department.

No deaths or injuries have been reported yet.