By Noela EBOB BISONG
There are mixed reactions following the recent appointment of some militants into the Central Committee of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement CPDM party.
The President of the Republic of Cameroon who doubles as the national chairman of the CPDM party, Paul Biya, made the appointments last March 25, 2025. The list carrying the 28 new CPDM Central Committee members has since then been the subject of much debate, and this is in line with the national chairman’s competence to engage the move.
According to some critics, the appointments were made in violation of the texts of the party especially its articles 19 and 24 Alinea 4.
According to article 19 of the CPDM party text, the Congress elects the President of the Party and members of the Central Committee of the party that are 350 in number. It details that the Congress elects 210 members and the National president appoints 140. The SUN gathered that such action is done within the framework of an ordinary party congress.
According to the party’s Article 24 in its Alinea 4, it states that in case of the death of a member of the Central Committee, the President appoints the Alternate member in replacement of the deceased member.
“That article is clear; members like the late Fon Angwafor, Chief Mukete, Madeleine Mbono, Lifaka Emilia, Samuel Mokate, Ruth Ndando and others were supposed to be replaced by their alternate members as soon as their demise known. If it weren’t done as required by the texts of the CPDM party, the only legitimate and legal instance for those group replacements is an Ordinary Congress”, a source argues.
Recall that the CPDM party lastly held its Ordinary Congress in September 2011 in Yaounde.
“Paul Biya, by making the appointments, acted ultra-vires. If Cameroon were a sound country, a militant of the party could seek legal redress and the decision will be cancelled”, our source posits.
The 28 newly appointed include among others, Ministers Joseph Beti Assomo, Dr Taiga, Joseph Le, Gabriel Mbairobe, Nalova Lyonga, Minette Libom Li Likeng, Pauline Irene Nguene, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe, Rose Mbah Acha Fomundam, Camtel DG -Judith Yah Sunday Achidi, others like Fai Yengo Francis and Angwafor Fru Asa etc.
One of the concerns in the list of 28 is the absence of the name of the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republican, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, whom some hold is a clear gesture to keep the SGPR far from the high seat, (in case he had nursed any ambition).
While the new appointees are in high spirit, the debates continue on the eligibility of the appointment. Since 2011-2012, the polibureu of the CPDM was given the mandate to manage party affairs until anytime the Congress is called. As at date, it has been over 14 years since the CPDM had a Congress, and critics say Biya’s mandate had expired hence he lacked the competence to appoint the Central Committee members and Divisional Heads. The SUN has also gathered that a case has been allegedly filed against Biya for his move, on the basis of illegality.