Speaking to party activists via video from Europe on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, following his re-election as PDCI (opposition) president, Tidjane Thiam acknowledged that a significant struggle remains, particularly concerning his eligibility to contest the upcoming presidential election.
His re-election was held to comply with Ivorian law governing political parties.
At the conclusion of an extraordinary elective congress held on Wednesday, Thiam secured an overwhelming 99.7 percent of the vote, receiving 5,190 votes out of 5,202 cast. The turnout rate was an impressive 92.59 percent, with 5,211 of the 5,622 registered voters participating. “I have been re-elected with an extremely extraordinary majority. I am moved, and I thank you,” Thiam told PDCI activists, vowing that “what matters to me is bringing the party back to power, and no amount of defamation will distract me from that goal.”
However, Thiam emphasized the ongoing challenges. “We are victims of injustice. We still have a major battle to fight so that I can be a candidate in the presidential election, since you have designated me as the party’s candidate, so that I can be registered on the electoral list,” he asserted.
He urged his supporters to join him in this fight, referencing a crucial court hearing scheduled for today, May 15, 2025. “We’ll see what the courts say tomorrow, since there is a hearing on May 15, 2025. Today, we have dismissed a legal issue since it was said that the PDCI had been misled about my nationality,” he declared. The legal battle stems from a court order in April that removed Thiam’s name from the electoral roll, citing that he lost his Ivorian nationality upon registering in 2022 after acquiring French citizenship in 1987. Ivorian law stipulates that acquiring another nationality results in the loss of Ivorian citizenship.
Thiam had previously resigned as PDCI president to anticipate these legal proceedings initiated by Ms. Valerie Yapo, who argues he was not Ivorian at the time of his initial election. The judge is expected to deliver a verdict on his electoral status today.
Reflecting on the situation, Thiam stated, “We are keeping our eye on the goal: a truly peaceful change of government in Côte d’Ivoire to govern differently. Africa is watching us; we cannot fail in the fight we are waging.”
He expressed gratitude for the “great act of confidence” shown by the activists who re-elected him within a 72-hour period. He suggested that the attacks from his detractors had ironically helped many to understand his character, reassuring them that he remains “calm” and “not disturbed.”
Concluding his address, Thiam warned his opponents to reconsider their approach. “Our adversaries must understand that they must change their approach. Here in Europe, as soon as I leave my house, I am invaded by Ivorians and non-Ivorians,” he stated, reiterating his commitment to a peaceful transition of power and a different style of governance.
