Cameroon's ruling party wins the majority at the Senate election

A few months back I wrote a post about concerns expressed by many politicians and activists in Cameroon; on the issues surrounding the nomination of Senators. Click here to read previous post.  In Cameroon, the Senate is the upper house of the Parliament. 

Even though the Senate was created in 1996 after an amendment to the constitution created the upper chamber, power to convene the Electoral College and call elections for the Senate long remained with the President of the country His Excellency Pau Biya. His Excellency Biya decided not to do so until the decree 2013/056 on 27 February 2013 was signed by him, where by the election date was set for 14 April .

Elections to the Senate was finally held on the 14 April 2013 for the first time. This Senate in question has 100 seats, of which 70 are elected and 30 appointed by the President himself; each region is to have have 10 Senators. The elected seats are elected by the 10,636 members of the 360 municipal councils. 

Result shows, the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) won 56 out of the 70 seats.

“Globally, the make-up of the Senate is a conservative one,” said political analyst Eric Mathias Owona Nguini.

“President Biya showed his will to control the Senate right from the start and the naming of the remaining senators confirms that a rejuvenation of Cameroon politics under Biya will be difficult.” Source: www.africareview.com

A crucial observation was obvious when the list of chosen Senators was released - some of the big-wings names were not called, nevertheless, rumour remained that they may appointed among the remaining 30 senators to be appointed by the President of the Republic in accordance with section 20 of the constitution and section 214 of the electoral code.

In a country with many democratic issues, critics are always in existence - Some critics voiced that the senate vote was illegal because the mandates of the municipal councillors who voted expired last year. Nevertheless, such a huge step in the democratic system of Cameroon has been applauded by many including the leader of the main opposition party (Social Democratic Front ) Ni John Fru Ndi His true statement here.....

It was also noted as widely speculated, that President Biya did not name his son Frank Emmanuel Biya, a senator.

As an advocate for gender equal opportunity in politic, it was encouraging to see about 19 women featured on the main list while 27 others are on the awaiting list...Credit to His Excellency for that. 

COMPLETE LIST CPDM SENATORIAL CANDIDATES

Far North Region 

1- Abba Boukar

2- Faycal Mourad

3- Mme Djakao née Foutsou

4- Mohamed Ema Abdoul Karim 

5- Mme Djamo

6- Mme Adamari

7- Abradakam

Adamaoua Region 

1- Oumarou Dika Saïdou

2- Amadou Tidjiani

3- Nana Bouba

4- Mohaman Lamine

5- Amadou Paul 

6- Alioum Moussa

7- Mme Awa

North West Region 

1- Achidi Achu Simon 

2- Asam David 

3- Ndinga Ignatius 

4- Mme Enoh Lafon

5- Ngwako Julius 

6- Awanga Zacharia 

7- Njiku Stephen 

West Region 

1- Ngoubeyou François Xavier 

2- Ndjomo Honoré

3- Kouawa Christine 

4- Pokam Max 

5- Samou Micheline 

6- Nzognou Fossangong

7- Akwaléfo Bernadette 

South West Region 

1- Tambe Edou Ndep

2- Ngolle Ebong

3- Antia Rebecca

4- Njifoua Lucas 

5- Matouke Daniel 

6- Ote Audrey Mussa

7- Bella Moukounche

South Region 

1- Medjo Delphine 

2- Zang Oyono

3- Obam Assam 

4- Mba Mba Grégoire

5- Eloumba Thérèse

6- Nanga

7- Mbita Mve Raymond 

Littoral Region 

1- Tobbo Eyoum Thomas 

2- Tjoues Geneviève

3- Din Bell Armande

4- Mbassa Din 

5- Kingué Simon 

6- Ebongue Jean Jules 

7- Kemayou Claude 

Centre Region 

1- Naah Ondoa Sylvestre

2- Mama Jean Marie 

3- Anong Adibimé Pascal 

4- Bell Luc René

5- Nicole Okala

6- Atangana Tsoungui

7- Nnemdé Emmanuel 

North Region 

1- Youssoufa Daoua

2- Namio Pierre 

3- Mme Asta Yvonne 

4- Ahmadou Alim

5- Hamidou Maurice 

6- Mme Adamou née Doudou

7- Bebdone Payoumi

East Region 

1- Ndanga Ndinga Badel

2- Amama Benjamin 

3- Salé Charles 

4- Ouli Ndongo Monique 

5- Tokpanou Suzanne 

6- Mboundjo Jean 

7- Monpea Marie Claire

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Source: www.africareview.com