Top officials of the elections management body, Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, are, once more in conflict following the appointment of some six Regional Delegates of the outfit on Wednesday, July 9.
The Electoral Board of ELECAM made the appointments after a meeting at the Yaounde Mont Febe Hotel that Wednesday. The decision, signed by the Chair of the ELECAM Electoral Board, Dr. Samuel Fonkam Azu’u, appointed new Delegates in the Centre, East, and West, Southwest, South and Far North Regions.
Josephine Angele Essama, the former Divisional Delegate of Mefou and Afamba, replaces Bridgitte Magdaleine Ntsama Amougou as the new ELECAM Delegate of the Centre Region. The former Divisional Branch head for the Kadey Division, Marguerite Gbaboua becomes the new ELECAM boss for the East Region;She replaces Gabriel Banibeno.
The ELECAM Board decision also appointed Francis Pene Tientcheu, the former ELECAM boss for upper Nkam Division to replace Gabriel Gounou as Regional Delegate for the West. Unfortunately, all the three former Delegates were sacked.
Three other Delegates who were due retirement were also replaced. Emmanuel Mbeng Njang, Southwest Region; Victor Nkoumou Ekongolo, South Region; and Adji Massaou, Far North Region. Thus, Okha Bau Okah is the new ELECAM boss for the Southwest, while Armand Patrice Edjongolo will perform the same functions in the South Region.
Ali Hamidou is the new boss of ELECAM in the Far North Region. The Delegates of the Northwest, Adamawa, North and Littoral Regions were not affected by the appointments.
In the Southwest Delegation, Mereku Etu nee Ngonde Jacqueline, formerly in charge of Budget and Finance at the Ndian ELECAM Divisional Branch, has been appointed Head of Service of Electoral Operations and Referendums, to replace Okha Bau Ohka, appointed Regional Delegate.
Anthony Egbe Enow, formerly acting Head of Service of Administrative and Financial Affairs has been appointed into that position in replacement of Tientcheu Nguenkam, retired. Meanwhile, the other Service Heads have been maintained: Stephen Kofete Ngymboh, remains Head of Service of Computer Operations, Voters Registers and Network Management; Monique Egbe Agbor – Head of Service of Mails, Reception and Liaison; Stephen Moki Mokondo remains Head of Service for Communication, Documentation and Archives.
In the Northwest Regional Delegation, all Service Heads have been maintained: Peter Lang Dinga remains the Head of Service of Electoral Operations and Referendums; Frankline Tim Diom – Computer Operations, Voters Registers and Network Management; Margaret Tamanji Ngye - Administrative and Financial Affairs; Florence Berkely Mopelola Tracey – Mails, Reception and Liaison; Colday Ndofekeh Olivier – Communication, Documentation and Archives.
However, sources at ELECAM told The Post that the decision of the Electoral Board is the origin of the conflict in the house. It is alleged that the Director General of Elections, Mohaman Sani Tanimou, were not happy because he was sidelined in the appointments. A source said Sani Tanimou’s argument is predicated on Article 30 of the Electoral Code which provides that the Electoral Board of ELECAM appoints officials of the Regional branches of the outfit upon proposals of the Director General of Elections.
The bone of contention here, according to inside sources, is that the Electoral Board went solo in the appointments without getting any proposals from the Director General of Elections. The decision No. 0159 ELECAM/CE of July 9 2014, bring to bare another segment of conflict between the two main organs of ELECAM, the Electoral Board and the Directorate of Elections.
Another insider, who asked not to be named,briefly stated that “The Electoral Board is the overall boss of ELECAM and should have the final word in every circumstance,” he said. He said the Director General of Elections cannot take decisions and make declarations to the press as if he were the overall boss of the election management body.
Yet, supporters of the Director General of Elections at ELECAM hold that last Wednesday’s appointments were tailored to get rid of all the Regional Delegates that are loyal to the Directorate of Elections.
Last Wednesday’s appointment was thus a wind that lifted the veil from the rivalry that puts the two top organs of ELECAM against each other.
Some observers have cast censure on the Electoral Code and the text creating ELECAM, for creating confusion. Such a situation breeds a very unhealthy working atmosphere at ELECAM as workers are divided into two camps. The Post learnt that workers of both camps suspect and spy on each other. Thus, there is permanent suspicion between pro-Electoral Board workers and those who are loyal to the Directorate General of Elections.
