By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The Social Democratic Front, SDF party has threatened to block expected Municipal, Legislative and Regional Council elections this year in the country “if the regime fails to stop the bloodbath and provide long lasting solutions to the socio-political crisis in the North West and South West regions and insists on organizing these elections within the present dispensation.”
The resolution was taken among other striking ones during the National Executive Committee closed door meeting of the SDF last March 23 and 24, 2019 at Nkolfoulou neighbourhood beside Soa under the presidency of the National Chairman of the party, Ni John Fru Ndi.
Attended by SDF’s Senators, Members of the National Assembly and Mayors, the NEC meeting turned out to be a stormy one due to the heat generated by hot deliberations on certain political issues concerning the way forward of the party, pushing the Chairman to suspend deliberations in the late night of Saturday which only resumed on Sunday morning.
Quizzed to know why the SDF has decided to take such a stance, Hon Joseph Mbah Ndam who doubles as Deputy Speaker at the National Assembly on the SDF’s ticket responded to reporters that “Ever since we resolved at the SDF convention not to boycott any election in the country again, we are now bent at making sure that the regime levels the playing ground for all political parties to compete. Unlike what happened at the presidential and senatorial elections last year, the SDF will not accept that elections are organized this year in the present dispensation which does not allow voters in the North West and South West regions to freely exercise their civic rights because of insecurity and threats.”
Asked if the SDF will take part at the upcoming Regional Council election, Hon Mbah Ndam said “Our party is very preoccupied with what is going on in the North West and South West regions and we are continuing to insist that if that situation is not resolved, it may be difficult to hold an election. The SDF is very willing to participate in any election but the circumstance in which we find ourselves in the North West and South West regions is so preoccupying. That is why we keep thinking that we must call on this government to make sure that the conditions are conducive for everybody.”