Walter Wilson Nana, AfricaNews reporter in Buea, Cameroon
It is now official in Cameroon, sitting President Paul Biya, has convened the electorate for a presidential election come Sunday, October 9 2011. In line with constitutional provisions in that country, the election must take place not later than twenty days and not more than fifty days before the end of the mandate of the incumbent, which is November 3 2011.
Cameroonians are now open to intense political activities, with the presidential calendar now known. The declaration of candidates will intensify and campaign activities to pick up steam, especially to some political parties and leaders, who were suggestively, not convinced that the political activities of the country will progress.
Presidential hopefuls are now expected to forward their candidatures to the directorate managing elections in Cameroon known as Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, with the deadline being Monday, September 5 2011. The files of the Presidential hopefuls will be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of FCFA 5 million ($11,364).
According to the law governing Presidential Poll in Cameroon, campaigns will run from September 25 to October 8 2011.
While the governing Cameroon People Democratic Movement, CPDM, hold their congress on September 15 and 16 to choose their Presidential Candidate, the Cameroonian public is also looking forward to who will lead the main opposition party in the country, the Social Democratic Front, SDF, as their candidate.
Before the convening of the electorate, more than twenty presidential aspirants had made public their intention to take over from Presidential Paul Biya at the Unity Palace if any of them is given a vote of confidence by Cameroonians.
Some of the aspirants, who have been making waves across the Cameroonian political scene and in the media include; Barrister Ben Muna of the Alliance Progressive Forces, APF, Anicet Ekane of MANIDEM, Esther Dang, Independent Candidate, Hon. Paul Ayah Abine of the People’s Action Party, PAP, Jean Jacques Ekindi of the Progressive Movement, PM, Edith Kahbang Walla aka Kah Walla of the Cameroon People’s Party, CPP, Dr. Chris Fomunyoh, Independent Candidate and Lamartine Tchana of the DLCC.
The serving President Biya has been at the helm of power in Cameroon for twenty eight years and his supporters are still calling for him to put forth his candidature for the October 9 Poll in a series of five volumes of books entitled “The Peoples Call”.
It is now official in Cameroon, sitting President Paul Biya, has convened the electorate for a presidential election come Sunday, October 9 2011. In line with constitutional provisions in that country, the election must take place not later than twenty days and not more than fifty days before the end of the mandate of the incumbent, which is November 3 2011.
