The independent Member of Parliament for Zuénoula (West), Olivier Djè Bi Djè, officially announced his candidacy for the Ivorian presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025, in a statement issued on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

The Ivorian politician declared that his presidential bid is placed under the guidance of the custodians of traditional leadership, reaffirming his deep commitment to the cultural and spiritual values of the Nation.

In his stronghold, the elected representative of Zuénoula paid tribute to the late Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who, according to him, placed the country on the right track, as well as the late Henri Konan Bédié, who managed to reduce Côte d’Ivoire’s debt through his policies.

He also praised former President Laurent Gbagbo for his efforts in strengthening democracy in the country, and finally acknowledged current President Alassane Ouattara for his work in renovating Côte d’Ivoire’s socio-economic infrastructure.

Holder of a master's degree in management, Olivier Djè Bi Djè seeks to embody a new generation of leadership—rooted in Ivorian identity and oriented toward participatory governance, social justice, peace, and shared development.

Positioning himself as a credible alternative to the major traditional political parties, Olivier Djè Bi Djè is relying on the citizens’ movement “L’Éveil” (The Awakening). He promotes a national identity project centered around the concept of “L’Ivoirois.”

A unique figure in the political landscape, the MP used this platform to revive his concept of “L’Ivoirois.” According to him, this term should replace “Ivoirien” in both official and popular discourse in order to forge a renewed national consciousness—one that is more inclusive and conducive to reconciliation.

He views this semantic initiative as a symbolic tool to rebuild social cohesion and the spirit of togetherness in Côte d’Ivoire. In 2020, Olivier Djè Bi Djè had already attempted to run for president, but his candidacy was invalidated due to non-compliant sponsorships.

Now returning to the 2025 presidential race with greater experience, the MP is pursuing a strategy grounded in community legitimacy, attentive listening to rural territories, and the backing of traditional chiefs—whom he sees as pillars of social stability.

“More than ever, we need to be united to face the challenges ahead,” declared the MP for Zuénoula, standing beside several community elders and traditional leaders who came to offer him their blessing.

His commitment represents an electoral challenge in a context of political realignment. His candidacy emerges in a particularly open electoral climate, with other prominent figures—such as former Abidjan prefect Vincent Toh Bi Irié, Jean-Louis Billon, and Simone Ehivet—already expressing their intentions to run for the presidency.

Facing these well-known figures, Olivier Djè Bi Djè is counting on his close ties with the rural population, often marginalized in national political debates. The candidate must now meet the requirement set by the Constitutional Council: obtaining sponsorships in at least 17 regions or autonomous districts, as stipulated by the Electoral Code.