Senatorial Results: Fako CPDM Bubbles Over 15 Votes as Chief Inoni Factor Explodes

 By Regin Muchop

Former Prime Minister Chief Thomas Inoni Ephraim

The CPDM in Fako is reported in a strange mode following preliminary votes count as the Chief Inoni factor surface in poll results. Classified sources hinted that 15 councilors voted SDF list while two others casted theirs in the waste basket. This scenario according to what we gathered is tearing the CPDM apart. Accordingly, everyone is suspicious of the other. A school of thought holds that Chief Inoni Ephraim’s loyalists for once had the opportunity to express their grievances through the ballot. Supporters of the former Prime Minister we were hinted decided to pay the CPDM in their own game of the mastiff. Not withstanding the threats of "treason" that had been preached against in Fako ahead voting was fruitless. An authoritative voice hinted that Chief Inoni’s supporters are bent on giving the CPDM a bitter lesson. “It is just the beginning because the worst is still to come”, one young man who preferred not to be named remarked during preliminary vote counts in Limbe. He whispered that the CPDM will pick their shock in the upcoming municipal and legislative elections. It is aired in that the CPDM Councilors in Fako who still decided to respect the voices of their consciences and not along party lines are being hunted. Yet the hunt we gathered will yield no fruit because majority of the councilors would have done the same if not of the threats and the fact that the councils were distributed in identical polls.

Another source hinted that even though two people were taken from Fako to remedy the situation, the plan has flopped woefully. Mayors Matute Daniel and Mbella Moki Charles were picked for CPDM senatorial list contrary to public opinion that Manyu or Meme would have been preferred due to their sizes. It is even alleged that if the Supreme Court decides to validate 60+1 as hinted, the SDF will pick majority of majority of the seats in the South West Region. It is alleged that if President Biya summons the Electoral College for municipal and legislative elections for July 7, as predicted the coming into play of Ayah Paul’s People Action Party, the CPDM will be escorted out of the region. With this cacophony taking the central stage in the South West, PAP will likely sweep Manyu and Lebialem Divisions while the SDF will dictate it supremacy in Ndian, Meme and Fako Divisions. Kupe Muaneguba (of the Ngole Ngwesse’s and Ngolle Ngolle) would have to work hard to have a share of the votes. SDF and PAP will explore the divisive tendency in the Division to pick Nguti, Bangem or Tombel council.  

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Senatorial Challenges: For 12 Votes, SDF Militants want Hon. Njong Fired!

By Fai Cassian

Hon. Njong: Scape-goated by councilors

The SDF national chairman may likely become a senator thanks to his friend Paul Biya or only if the Supreme Court decides to validate 60+1 as absolute majority. According to what we gathered the prohibition by the National Communication Council for poll trends to be published by the media is not for nothing. Sources say the Supreme Court would trim-line the results as such that only 60.1% will be considered as absolute majority as against 50.1 percent. Should 60.1% be validated as absolute majority then the CPDM and the SDF will share the seats in the Northwest and South West Regions given the narrow difference of votes. Fru Ndi and Achidi Achu would both be senators. 

Yet diehard SDF militants are calling on the regional chairman Hon Njong Evaristus to resign. This is so because the 12 votes that the CPDM picked in Boyo are creating a lot of problems. It is alleged that the 12 votes were from Njinikom, Hon Njong’s own district. The SDF won in Boyo but yet 12 SDF councilors voted CPDM list. Thus Njong's constituency gave the CPDM victory in the North West Region.

The entire North West knows that it is the SDF which is the leading opposition political party in Cameroon and as Regional chairman; Hon Njong has no other option than to resign due to the fact that 12 SDF councilors voted for the CPDM in Boyo. When SDF militants continue to get echoes how in places like Adamawa where the party had not even a single council, the part won, they all want him to quit the position of chairman. 

A school of thought holds that SDF councilors voted CPDM to sanction Njong while another school of thought holds that it was to sanction Fru Ndi. It is strange. At the beginning allegations were rife that the North West CPDM list 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

 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. Fru Ndi relied on Hon Njong yet he failed woefully in his duties as regional chairman.

 Allegations are rife at that Hon Njong's supporters voted against the SDF for fear that if Prof. Nkwi goes to the senate it would be the end of Njong's reign. More so, public opinion in Belo is also aghast that Njong and Prof. Nkwi all come from the same locality. Sources close to Ntarinkon hinted The Eye that even Ni John Fru Ndi is very disappointed with what transpired at Fundong. The 12 votes we gathered is what shank the SDF senatorial list.

Apart, the Mayor of Nkum is also on the firing line as his councilors are said to have voted the CPDM list.

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Senatorial Results: Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry’s Outburst of Joy

 By Fai Cassian Ndi

Elated Dr. Fuh Calistus with Gerard Ngala

The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Dr. Calistus Fuh Gentry cum CPDM Donga Mantung Campaign team leader after following the preliminary votes count putting his CPDM party on the lead in the Division and the North West Region, boasted that history had turned tables as the opposition headquarter has been moved from its North West fief to the West Region. This was Dr. Calistus Gentry’s outburst of joy after the Donga-Mantung polls were counted in favour of his CPDM party, and at the instance of clandestine reports from other Divisions of the Region. Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry said that the CPDM in Donga Mantung Division is united and will remain intact.

Talking to journalists in Nkambe, he exploded that the result was a confirmation that the people of Donga-Mantung had not only realized the wonderful achievements of the ruling party but had discovered a party that holds the brightest future for them. He praised councilors for that foresightedness. He called for those still lagging behind to hasten up and join the train else they regret

Dr. Calistus Fuh praised his people for the very calm and peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the elections: he counted it as a proof of mature democracy in Donga-Mantung Division worth emulating. He said it was time the people were allowed to the freedom of choosing good things for themselves. However, he only attempted refuting the fact that they caged their CPDM councilors from the political claws of the SDF opposition party. He said they were not caged per se but held them for educative meetings. He echoed that the CPDM was functioning within the ambit of the law and was above such politics.

All night long jubilations, Shey Jones, Ngafeeson on pic

Allegations are rife that witch doctors were ferried from areas like Adere and other far off places to frighten councilors. More so, some unconfirmed sources say some CPDM councilors were forced to take oaths before reaching Nkambe. However, The Eye is investigating into all these allegations.

What They Said:

Mafor Achidi Achu Judith (Member of CPDM Sub Divisional Campaign Ndu)

Reacting after the preliminary vote counts at the three polling stations in Nkambe, Mafor Achidi Judith she was elated that her party has won. She said for once the CPDM has had an easy walk over the SDF in Donga Mantung Division. She also added that she was also happy that she is part of the team that contributed to the success story. Drawing her inspiration from the famous Santa mafia style of politics, she said politics is about development and that the people turn to benefit much from the CPDM.

Harping on the conduct of the polls, she said if all others elections could be as calm, transparent and hitch-free like the senatorial, politics would not be regarded as a dirty game. “I was sure and certain that we were going to win” she concluded.

            HON. GENESIS Mbucksek( NWA)

On his part, the Member of Parliament for Nwa, Hon. Genesis Mbucksek, (CPDM) who represented the CPDM in polling station “A” upheld the CPDM family in Donga-Mantung Division for working as one and turning down history. He said the CPDM-favoured result was thanks to the fact that even militants of the opposition had realized themselves and were then focused. Boasting like one who now hosts Donga-Mantung’s pioneer Senator (Retired Prof. Jikong Stephen Yeriwa), Hon. Mbucksek expressed that for once Nwa was honoured with such a position. He disclosed that it was another way to completely disenclave Nwa. The MP said the CPDM in Donga-Mantung proved so faithful to the party that all of their councilors voted their candidates. He also thanked some of the SDF councilors who exhibited patriotism, solidarity and a sense of focus by voting the CPDM candidates. He hinted that this was because they had achieved much and were sure to grab more from the ruling party. This action especially by the opposition party militants, the MP opted that government should take special consideration and fulfill the people’s aged expectation of creating administrative units in the Division and more importantly the creation of the Savannah Region beside facilitating the tarring the Ring-road stretch through the Division.

He opined that political parties were meant for development, and voting the CPDM, was the only way to lobby for more development. He boasted that the Senatorial election in the Division without any incidence was a true test of veritable democracy in that part of the country. However, he made vain efforts to deny the allegation that their victory was at the instance of their caged councilors that survived the political claws of the SDF party.

                                      Hon. Awudu Mbaya (SDF MP for Nkambe).

Hon. Awudu Mbaya was one of the polling agents representing the interest of the SDF. Talking to journalists, the SDF MP for Nkambe who also doubles as Questor at the National Assembly said the election was conducted in a peaceful, calm and serene atmosphere. However, he cited an ugly instance where two persons in different polling stations put all of their two ballot papers into the waste basket and only one of them was allowed to repeat process and the other suspected opposition electorate denied the same illegal favour. He said it was for the fact that CPDM had more councilors than SDF, the CPDM was already winner.

He said, allowing people who had long resigned from the council and their official documents forwarded to hierarchy, coupled with the fact that they had absented from council sessions, to vote was clear proof of CPDM’s rigging machinaery. “However, like a democrat, I accept the CPDM victory. There is no reason to create problems where there are no problems”, he reiterated. Contrary to those who were chanting that the CPDM will also win in the upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections, Hon. Awudu doubted their political prowess.

Hon. Awudu Mbaya also revealed that CPDM’s victory stood on the fact that CPDM councilors from Ako, Misaje and Nwa were caged in the residences of Jones Shey Yembe and Ta-nformi Gerald Ngala. He accused them of flaunting their electoral rights to campaign these councilors and tampering with the councillors’ freedom of movement. He said this act started in Misaje where they escaped with councillors from Ni John FRU Ndi who was visiting and had the rights to talk to the councillors. “This is a gross violation of human rights”, he reechoed.

            The senatorial election not withstanding, the SDF firebrand MP was very optimistic about the forthcoming municipal and Legislative elections thus vowing to grab all the council and Parliamentary seats in Donga-Mantung. He assured that all had been put in place to check the CPDM’s rigging machinery given that with the biometric, these political elite(s) will be hooked. Allegations are rife at that some SDF councilors were handed laptops and phones to vote CPDM. 

Gerard Ngala (CPDM Parliamentary Aspirant)

CPDM Parliamentary aspirant, Ta-Nfomi Gerard Ngala said he was pleased with the conduct of the election and above all the calm atmosphere that characterized the polls. He expressed joy that the CPDM victory to him was quite inspiring because they put in much effort for the election. He said that the SDF has been chased away from the North West Region to the West Region. Implicitly, Gerard Ngala was passing a message that the SDF has also been moved from Donga Mantung Division for good.

Those who snubbed the Press                      

Earlier before the counting of the ballots at the Nkambe polls, the Substantive CPDM senatorial candidate, Prof. Jikong Stephen Yeriwa turned down a press interview and when the preliminary votes count was over journalists were unable to locate him to get his impressions. Besides, given that his alternate Ngi Christopher once declared that they were not newspaper politicians, no journalist cared to get his opinion on the conduct of the polls. Meanwhile another CPDM bigwig, Hon Shey JonesYembe whom The Eye spotted in the crowd jubilating snubbed journalists without any remorse. Journalists who spotted Shey Jones jubilating and enchanting out bursting that a similar defeat of the SDF will surface soon at local elections picked their shock when they followed him to his residence and the unexpected struck them. To their greatest surprise, Hon. Shey Jones Yembe refused talking to the Press. Nkemda Simon Sunde of Misaje is also reported to have absconded from an interview. According to a hint the Misaje CPDM is running out of time with him as mayor.

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Senatorial Results: Oku/ Noni Councilors Vote SDF to Sanction Yang Philemon

 By Baweson Ndi

PM Yang Philemon

Preliminary vote counts in Bui Division puts the ruling CPDM party ahead of the SDF yet an atmosphere of stale familiarity is reported in Oku/ Noni, PM Yang Philemon’s Constituency. The Eye is aware that some councilors of Elak-Oku council and Nkor council voted for the SDF list in Bui. Accordingly, confidential sources hinted that some councilors suspected to have voted for the opposition SDF party are being monitored. It is even alleged that the phones of councilors were seized before D-Day, if not the result in Bui would have been catastrophic for the ruling CPDM party. Although the CPDM won in Bui Division by 120 votes as against 71 for the SDF, indicators are rife at that if not that the councilors were strategically shared in polling stations according to their council areas, PM Yang would have picked his shock.
More so, another source also revealed that to reduce the damage, councilors of Oku/Noni voted in one polling station but some disgruntled CPDM council passed the long rumoured sanction vote on PM Philemon Yang. CPDM bigwigs in Yang’s constituency have vowed to fish out the traitors and to deal with them accordingly. According to them the councilors violated party instructions and are considered as traitors, and must be treated as “enemies in the house.” They consider it not only as exercising their democratic rights but attempt to humiliate their own brother, Philemon Yang, the Prime Minister of the Republic. After preliminary vote count, it is alleged the councilors left Kumbo being fractionalized. Sources say the councilors used the opportunity to emit warning signals that the population of Oku/Noni is not happy with the Prime Minister, Yang Philemon. Besides, Elak council it is alleged is also another scene of anger with numerous scandals which PM Yang has never cared to give an ear (watchout separate story on Oku). It is alleged that this is just the beginning because even in Nkor Council there is a lot of division. The Eye is aware that some councilors of Nkor council have been placed under surveillance by local party officials. It is aired that the Section President Forgwe Alfred has vowed that if the said councilors are from Noni, they will be exposed.

            Nevertheless, many people have criticized such a diabolic intension describing it as undemocratic and unconstitutional. Others have said it was humiliating to think of such act given that in any election each individual has his free-will to any choice. Although suspicions are high that the two candidates might have come from Philemon Yang’s Oku councilors, it is observed that it was but a show of democracy. And that the CPDM bygones struggling to defend the obvious were rather begging favour from the PM in a lobbying strategy that may rather annoy the PM.( Up Next: How PM Yang Abandoned Kumbo-Mbinon-Lassin Road & Scandals Teraing Nkor Council apart)

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