Fonkam Azu’u indicts ELECAM DG for insubordination

The board Chairman of ELECAM, Samuel Fonkam Azu’u has accused the director general of elections, Sani Tanimou of insubordination and disrespect of hierarchy.

This was in relation to Tanimou’s denial to install regional delegates of the elections and referendum organisation and management institution, appointed by the board of directors.

Fonkam was speaking at the opening of the fourth ordinary session of the board which took place in Yaounde yesterday October 23.

In a press statement, he pointed out that what has been reported in the media as an internal conflict between him and his subordinate, the director general, has to do with disrespect of hierarchy; “…given that the director general has still not commissioned the regional delegates and divisional officials appointed by a unanimous decision of the electoral board in its resolution number 0159/elecam/ce of the 9th of July 2014.”

He said that the board had in two sessions held last year, October 25 and December 31 examined the necessity to replace officials of its branches who were going on retirement and requested that the director general should make a list, proposing replacements for these positions.

A trembling Tanimou struggled to appear calm while he kept fidgeting as the ELECAM boss read the declaration. He kept flipping through pages of a document he had in front of him. While Fonkam was half through, the DG lowered his head, held in both hands, took off his somewhat purple cap which he wore to match his white gandura and then wore it back almost immediately. Every now and then he picked up his pen, uncorked it and then corked it again.

“This matter was again on the agenda of three successive sessions of the board meeting.” the board chair – Fonkam continued. He stated that the February 26, April 25, and July 9 sessions that were held this year before yesterday’s session also focused on the replacement of the retired officials.

Going by the board chair, it was in total respect of the rights of the director general that the board waiting for more than six months for him to submit the proposals. He never did. The regional delegates went on retirement on October 25, 2013 at the age of 60 following the statutes of ELECAM.

Fonkam Azu’u used the ordinary session to examine and adoption the 2015 budget of the commission.

Trying to set the record straight as regards the hierarchy of ELECAM board, he stated that the texts state clearly that the director general shall be under the authority of the board and he or she can only act under the authorisation of the board which is headed by a chair.

He also gave to understanding that the decisions of the board of directors are supposed to be implemented by the subordinates including the director general unless they have been declared illegal by a competent court of law. He buttressed his arguments with provisions of the law creating ELECAM and the texts empowering its director general.

He said the decision is made in accordance with authority entrusted on the board by section nine of the electoral code and by no means has been regarded as illegal. The law gives the board the right to take decisions in case of dysfunctions or inertia and its decisions are administrative.

He, however, stated that the issue is being handled internally, stressing that Tanimou has not only disrespected the board of directors, but questioned the authority of the state, and that the electoral board has prepared a letter to the president.