The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), the ruling party in Côte d'Ivoire, held the 12th session of its discussion forum with journalists, called "Les Rendez-vous du RHDP", on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at its headquarters in Abidjan.
During the event, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, the RHDP’s chief spokesperson and main speaker of the day, stated that the removal of Ivorian opposition figures Tidjane Thiam (PDCI-RDA) and Laurent Gbagbo (PPA-CI) from the electoral roll was not a decision made by President Alassane Ouattara.
“It was not President Alassane Ouattara who requested that Gbagbo and Thiam be removed from the electoral list. These are legal matters,” Mr. Adjoumani clarified.
Continuing his remarks, the RHDP spokesperson expressed his indignation at opposition figure Simone Ehivet Gbagbo's suggestion that the RHDP should present a candidate for the 2025 presidential election other than President Alassane Ouattara.
He described the proposal as “indecent and insulting,” reaffirming that “President Alassane Ouattara is indeed our candidate.”
“The current process will not be halted because the timing does not allow it. The final electoral list has been available since this morning. The elections will definitely take place on October 25, exactly five months from now. The countdown has begun,” he assured.
According to him, “it is time for the opposition to change tactics so that we can move towards peaceful and transparent elections.”
“The RHDP is a serious, organized, and focused party. We will win in the first round,” the ruling party’s spokesperson promised.
For Mr. Adjoumani, Ivorian opposition leaders are afraid to face Mr. Ouattara in the upcoming October presidential election.
“That is why,” he said, “if, by some extraordinary chance, President Alassane Ouattara announces he is not running, you will see people dancing all night.”
In the same vein, Mamadou Touré, RHDP's deputy spokesperson, stated that “the debate over Alassane Ouattara’s eligibility is no longer relevant,” adding that “even if it were, it is solely up to the constitutional judge to settle the matter.”
The next presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire is constitutionally scheduled for October 25, 2025.
