Senatorial Results: SDF Councilors Dash Fru Ndi’s Dream into Senate

By Asfa Donald  

The SDF national chairman may likely become a senator thanks to his friend Paul Biya. This is so because a well-placed source at Elections Cameroon has hinted that the tentative results from the North West Region have not been favourable for Ni John Fru Ndi. According to the hint, the SDF has been crushed in Donga Mantung, Bui, Ngoketunjia, Menchum and Momo. While waiting for the Supreme Court to proclaim the final results, the hint further indicates that the chips are down for the SDF. It is even alleged that some SDF councilors in Bui, Donga Mantung, Boyo, Mezam and Momo voted against SDF national chairman’s list. In Mezam, even though SDF chieftain crushed Hon. Achidi Achu with a 178 votes against 42, analysts say one SDF councilor voted for the CPDM when judged from the number of councilors each party presented at the polls. In Donga Mantung Division, the CPDM white-washed the SDF obtaining 88 votes as against 72 votes while in Bui Division, the CPDM carried the day with 210 votes as against 71 for the SDF. In Boyo, the CPDM which was going into the elections only with 22 councilors emerged with 34 votes as against 73 for the SDF. Even though the SDF won, 12 SDF councilors voted against their own national chairman’s list. Trends from Momo indicates that the CPDM carried the day with 78 votes as against 48 for SDF while in Menchum, all the 97 councilors voted in favour of the CPDM and the SDF got 0 vote. Echoes from Ngoketunjia also indicate that the CPDM matched over the SDF with 59 votes against 34. However, the fact is that while waiting for the Supreme Court to validate the results, the CPDM is already celebrating its victory in the region as sources from Ntarikon indicates that there is silence and disbelief. To sum it all, the CPDM in the North West will hence be looking up to the Supreme Court to either declare them winner with 488 votes as against 475 for SDF or cancel it. It should be recalled that in some areas, the counting of votes started as early as 3pm in violation of the law. This analysts say could lead to the disqualification of the results given that only Donga Mantung and Mezam respected that law.

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Senatorial Results: Dr. Fuh Calistus Declares the End of SDF in Donga Mantung

Dr. Fuh Calistus Talking to the Press after Polls Count

 By FC Junior

CPDM Senatorial Campaign team leader for Donga Mantung Division has declared the end of rein for the Social Democratic Front in Donga Mantung Division. Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry told journalists that he is delighted that Donga Mantung councilors voted for development. He said both CPDM and SDF councilors demystified the long established notion that Donga Mantung is the bastion of the opposition. Accordingly, Fr. Fuh Calistus Gentry said CDPM victory signifies the end of road for the SDF in the Division. He congratulated the councilors of Ndu, Nkambe, Nwa, Ako and Misaje for portraying their maturity in politics. While waiting for the Supreme Court to proclaim official results, CPDM won with 88 votes against 72 for the SDF. Implicitly, Dr. Calistus also said that the CPDM has not only won by scoring 100% vote from its councilors but they have had seven more votes from the opposition when judged from what the polls have dictated. Harping on the conducts of the polls, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry said the elections were free, fair and transparent. On his part Hon JK Ntoi, CPDM MP for Ako/Misjae Special Constituency  emphasized that the SDF has not only been chased away from Donga Mantung Division but is limping in the West Region where it funeral will soon be declared.

Hon. Genesis Mbucksek, CPDM MP for Nwa on his part sounded optimistic that today’s poll gives the CPDM will dictate a new geopolitical map for Donga Mantung. He said Nwa has been in the cool for long and thank God that councilors have brought them back to the forefront of Donga Mantung politics. Gerard Ngala, CPDM Parliamentary aspirant was overwhelmed with joy to the point that he said what is transpired in the polls will be repeated in the next coming months. He declared the SDF was finished in Donga Mantung Division.

SDF MP for Nkambe on the other hand told this reporter that the CPDM was going into the elections with an advantage that they had more councilors. Hon. Awudu Mbaya decried that in democracy, councilors are not supposed to caged or confined. This he said is a gross violation of human rights and the principles of democracy. On the conduct of the polls, he said only two incidents were registered. He decried that an SDF councilor mistakenly casted his vote in the trash-can and he was refused the opportunity to correct the error.

Back to the senatorial, whereas in his own polling station where he was representing the SDF, a young councilor committed the same error but they concerted and gave him the opportunity to vote where he is supposed to have voted. At the time we are putting on paper this report, dancing, feasting and dinking is at its peak at Shey Jones’ residence in Nkambe. Sources from Misaje also indicate that the town has come to a standstill with the arrival of Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry and councilors.

Yet public opinion in Nkambe is that this outcome will never reflect the upcoming senatorial elections in anyway. A source hinted that the CPDM will never win any elections in Ndu or Nkambe given the caliber of politicians. More so, the CPDM in Donga Mantung went to the polls with a margin in their favour since only councilors were allowed to vote. The most interesting thing is that even though the CPDM won, the common man whose votes will decide the faith of the CPDM in the municipal and legislative elections does see any reason why their votes should go to this party. It is feared that the CPDM may sink in Misaje given the conflict between the mayor and local party officials. A scene in Nkambe yesterday portrayed that the CPDM in Misaje is not only fractionalized, it has been killed by egoistic tendency.

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Senatorial Challenges: Opinion Poll Puts SDF and CPDM Neck to Neck in NW

As municipals councilors go to the polls to elect the first ever senators for Cameroon, all eyes are focused on the North West Region. This is so because the chairman of the leading opposition party in Cameroon is candidate. With Ni John Fru Ndi gunning for senate, the North West region has been described as the battle ground for senate. However, opinion polls put SDF and the CPDM neck to neck given the narrow gab. Public opinion in the region is however skeptical as to which political party will win given that the municipal councilors will vote along party discipline. Whatever Paul Biya assigned Belinga Eboutou to discuss with Fru Ndi may not hold in the North West region. Jean Kwete, CPDM Secretary General called on CPDM militants in the West region to vote SDF list and in response, Fru Ndi also called on SDF councilors in the Littoral to vote CPDM list. Yet, this gentleman agreement will not hold in the North West region where the CPDM is ready to ridicule the SDF in its base. This is why the CPDM is bent on crushing the SDF by all cost. But SDF insiders have assured The Eye that it will not happen. With allegations rife at that the Supreme Court may likely validate only 60.1% as absolute majority, public opinions that with the present dispensation it would be difficult for any of the political parties to get a crushing majority. 

As hinted, allegations are rife at that whether the SDF wins or not, Ni John Fru Ndi will be appointed senator and same goes with the CPDM. Achidi Achu former Prime Minister is head of the CPDM list in the North West and public opinion also holds that he has been tipped as well in case his list doesn't sail through. 

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Senatorial Challenges: Ahead D-Day, CPDM, SDF Go Money in Hand to Buy Votes in NW

By Fai Cassian Ndi

One of the excitements of the April 14, 2013 senatorial elections is the new geopolitical configuration that will be carved out. As campaign ends today, the North West Region has been described as the battle ground for senate given that it is where the leader of the main opposition in Cameroon is candidate. It is also because the difference in voters between the two political parties in the race to the senate is too narrow approximately about five councilors (if the three councilors who decamped from the SDF to join CPDM are added). For fear of the unexpected, allegations are rife at that both the CPDM and the SDF have gone solo negotiating to buy votes.

The Eye is aware that over 2 billion FCFA was earmarked to buy councilors to buy councilors. It is alleged that councilors have had enough for their pockets. It is even alleged that PM Philemon Yang toured the region and dished out 100.000 FCFA to each to all CPDM councilors. Scammers we have gathered have also used the opportunity to get money from both the SDF and CPDM on grounds that they would negotiate for councilors. It is even alleged that some people took their friends to some politicians and collected hundreds of thousand on grounds that they are councilors whereas they are not.

Ni John Fru Ndi took SDF and CPDM militants of the North West aback on April 12, 2013 when he called on SDF Municipal councilors in the Littoral Region to vote for the CPDM list. Fru Ndi it should be recalled made that controversial clarion call during a campaign meeting in Batibo in Momo Division. SDF chieftain’s call came barely a day after Prof. Fame Jacque Ndongo, told CPDM councilors in the West Region to vote SDF senatorial list. Fame Jacque Ndongo is quoted to have told the councilors that he was just passing instructions from the President of the CPDM Paul Biya.

Yet, the CPDM/SDF unholy alliance is creating a lot of controversy in the North West Region where Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi is candidate for the senate. Ahead of tomorrow’s polls, intrigues, slanders, blackmail and all sorts of political maneuvers have taken the central stage in the North West Region. Even with the SDF/CPDM alliance, spices have been placed to monitor the movement of municipal councilors by both parties. The movement of councilors is controlled and allegations are rife at that both parties have been involved in negotiating to buy votes. The SDF is accused of spreading cash to CPDM councilors while on the other side, CPDM bigwigs are also on the accusing bench for buying votes as well. Awanga Zacharia, CPDM senatorial candidate for Momo alleged to have caged CPDM councilors in Bamenda. Ni John Fru Ndi, SDF chairman was on tree tops denouncing Philemon Yang for moving councilors of Ako, Nwa and Misaje to Nkambe the day Fru Ndi was on his campaign tour to these council areas. Besides, it is also alleged that the CPDM was planning to cage councilors in order to restrict their movements.

However, the CPDM on the other hand is pointing accusing fingers at the SDF for sharing 3 million FCFA each to each candidate in the region to buy over councilors. Allegations are rife at that SDF District officials were spotted in several areas with money lobbying for votes. It is even rumoured in some localities in the North West that phones and identity cards of some councilors were seized.

The North West Region has been renounced in politics of acrimony. It is alleged the SDF/CPDM alliance is leaving many on both camps very uncomfortable. This is so because it is alleged that if the CPDM list headed by Simon Achidi Achu wins in the North West, he could be catapulted to the position of senate President. Implicitly, to create a geopolitical balance Yang Philemon would lose the post of Prime Minister, Head of Government. On the other hand it would even be more disastrous if the CPDM list is beaten. It would mean that Philemon Yang and his ministers are very unpopular. Biya will be obliged to flush Yang from government. Yang’s detractors will have tangible reasons to ask for his sacking. If the CPDM list wins, the senators will make sure that they lobby to be appointed ministers which also put to risk the positions of the present cabinet ministers. For example, Hon. Banmi Emmanuel will likely lose his position as MP given that the senator and MP cannot come from the same village while others will not. Hon. Njong Everistus of the SDF is in the same soup, since he comes from the same area with Prof. Nkwi who is going for senate.   

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Senatorial Challenges: Biya-Fru Ndi Unholy Alliance Sealed as Fru Ndi Campaigns for CPDM

 By Fai Cassian Ndi

Fru Ndi-Biya Alliance?

SDF national chairman Ni John Fru Ndi has called on SDF councilors in the Littoral Region to vote for CPDM Senatorial list. SDF Chieftain made the clarion call today April 12, 2013 in Batibo-Momo while on campaign. Ni John Fru Ndi clarion call comes barely 24 hours after the CPDM Communication Secretary told CPDM councilors in the West Region to cast their votes in favour of SDF senatorial list come April 14, 2013. The reality of the deal which Fru Ndi struck with Eboutou Belinga is becoming known to the public after a lot of speculations by political analysts. As predicted, The Eye is aware that the issue of voting is based on party discipline reasons why from the beginning the alleged deal between the CPDM and SDF was a misery. It is now overt why SDF had to contest even in areas that it has no councilors, this is so because as hinted part of the deal was for some lists to be disqualified. The CPDM is out in the West without a voted senator on flimsy excuses that are best known to Jean Kwete. An authoritative voice at the Central Committee of the CPDM hinted us that the ongoing political maneuvers between the CPDM and the SDF are part of the secret deal between President Biya and Fru Ndi. According to the hint, the SDF will win in the West, Adamawa and the North West will be shared. He further added that apart from that six SDF militants will be appointed into the senate. SDF will thus have 26 senators, while Dakole’s party will have just one senator. By implication, Fru Ndi will be appointed President of the senate. Besides, the SDF will then enter government and Belo Bouba’s NUDP will be flushed out. This will therefore mark the end of the NUDP-CPDM alliance. A school of thought holds that President Biya is determined to crush pro-Marafa in the Northern Region.

However, our informant further revealed that after the publication of the results President Biya will carryout a major cabinet shake-up which will usher into government some SDF militants. Harping on the geopolitical balance, The Eye gathered that Prime Minister Yang Philemon will lose his position to someone from the Adamawa. SDF diehards were taken aback when Fru Ndi exploded that SDF councilors in the Littoral should vote for CPDM. The question many observers have been asking is whether President Biya who has been talking to Fru Ndi through Eboutou Belinga will respect the gentleman agreement.

What if Fru Ndi Loses Elections in the NW

The probability that this deal could end up as a scam is relatively high. The world knows that it is the SDF which is the leading opposition political party in Cameroon. Not even those who struck an alliance with Biya to be part of his government. When Fru cried fault over the anticipation of senatorial elections, the Biya regime caught cold. Yet after threats of matchets and boycott, Fru Ndi swallowed his words and declared during a rally in Ndu after receiving a phone call that he will run for the senate. It was strange. At the beginning allegations were rife at that the list for the North West region would be disqualified for Fru Ndi’s candidature to sail through but it was instead the CPDM lists for West and Adamawa regions that were rejected. The Eye is aware that when it came out from ELECAM that the list for North West has been retained, SDF hierarchy became jittery and nervous. The secret however of the gentleman agreement remains between Paul Biya (Belinga Eboutou) and Fru Ndi. Yet speculations are rife at that if Fru Ndi loses and calls on militants to sharpen their matches, he would be given a deaf ear (a suivre)

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