BY SAH TERENCE A.
In a meeting to assess the level of preparedness in the region and in Mezam division in particular with regards to the upcoming Senatorial election, the ELECAM Board member in charge of the North West Region, Mbuh Peter held a meeting at the Mezam divisional delegation of Elections Cameroon on March 17th with senatorial aspirants and other stakeholders in the region.
According to the divisional delegate for ELECAM Mezam, the division is 95% ready for the March 25th senatorial election and that only a couple polling material was being awaited.
The divisional delegate also pointed out that there are four political parties contesting in the region; the SDF, CPDM, UDP, and NUDP and that there will be two polling stations in Mezam Division at GBHS Bamendankwe .Poll A will host 111 electors and Poll B will host 115 electors.
It is worth noting that out of the 239 councillors after the 2013 municipal and legislative elections, 18 have died leaving just 226 councillors with the CPDM having 91 of them and the SDF 135. UDP and NUDP have none.
The divisional delegate for Mezam however raised security concerns but remained hopeful that hierarchy was going to do something about it.
The Board member cautioned the candidates against hate speech during campaigns and that campaigns should be done in accordance to the law.
He also said that there should be free access to all voters and that no party should cage its voters and try to deprive them from free contact from other political parties. He added that voters can be contacted either individually or in groups.
He added that posters can be produced for campaigns but that the posting must be in authorised areas and that no party must post its posters at the polling station and all campaign material supposed to be presented to ELECAM for endorsement.
Proxies are to be obtained from councillors who will be unavoidably absent and Election officials were called upon to be very strict on them.
The board member reminded stakeholders that voting is obligatory and encouraged councillors to brave the odds and go out to vote for all security measures have been taken to ensure the safety of all stakeholders on the Election Day, including lodging and transportation facilities.
Peter Kuma Kombain, NUDP candidate, observed that in 2013 some potential voters were caged in hotels for two days and deprived access to other political parties and sought to know what ELECAM was doing to ensure that such things do not repeat themselves. He also sought to know what would be done to ensure that voters do not come out of the polling stations with ballot papers to present and collect money as has been noted in previous elections.
Another reaction came from Vanigansen MoChiggle, SDF candidate for Mezam who said in unequivocal terms that lodging voters in a hotel was tantamount to caging and that the party that cages people is well known and there is no need to be pretending without mincing words. He said doing so will make it very possible to block them from being seen by candidates.
He also pointed out that the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang has been meeting with councillors in some divisions and campaigning for CPDM candidates. He accused the PM of using his office to influence the election to his party’s favour.