SDF accused of taking FCFA 5mln bribe to vote CPDM mayor

A delegation from the Social Democratic Front, SDF, present at the election of Chief Daniel Mata Mokambe as new Mayor of Mbonge Council on March 4, is alleged to have demanded FCFA 5million from the CPDM to vote for its candidate.

In the election that followed, Chief Daniel Mata Mokambe emerged victorious with 23 votes as against 19 votes for Chief Graham Oponde Mesodi. Oponde, who is Chief of Bole Bakundu, retained his 1st Deputy position as the law gave him pre-emptive right to stand elections without first resigning, as many had thought.

The Post learnt that the opposition party made the demand on the night of March 3, during a secret meeting with one of the camps that came soliciting for its votes.

It is reported that the SDF had valued the vote of its 10 Councillors at FCFA 200,000 each.

At the head of the delegation was the SDF's Senator Jean Tsomelou, alongside the Mayors of Kumba. They team which answered present during the elections in Mbonge is said to have mapped out astrategy to get one of the positions of Deputy Mayors.

Their plan could not work out as the supervisory authority reminded the audience that only the position of Mayor was vacant and not Deputy.

It is apparent that, in the voting, of the 19 votes in favour of Graham Oponde,10 came from the SDF. The party is said to have struck a secret deal with Oponde's camp in case of victory to grab the position of 1st Deputy Mayor.

The camp of Chief Mokambe reportedly declined paying the FCFA 5million requested on grounds that their votes were expensive.

Following the outcome of the elections, both camps are still maintaining that they all gave slush envelopes to the opposition councillors as well as CPDM councillors.

Before the voting which took place in the heavy presence of security forces, theMinister of Special Duties at the Presidency, Victor Arrey Mengot, had a meeting with CPDM councillors in a bid to ensure victory for the party's candidate.

Mengot's preaching seemingly fell on deaf ears as another CPDM councillor nominated Graham Oponde. Oponde's nomination came after Councillor Victor Ngende, leader of the CPDM group at the Council, nominated Chief Mokambe as the party's candidate.

In a press briefing, the Mayor-elect, Chief Daniel Mokambe, said his team will continue with thesame vision tomaintain the development of Mbonge Sub-division.

The Paramount ruler of the Mbonges and Chief of Mbonge Marumba told reporters that they had a plan of action during the era of the former Mayor, Chief William Ekong, which his team will continue to implement.

Chief Graham Oponde who lost in the race to head the Council averred that the councillors will remain united to the same course of development under the CPDM ideology. He called on every one in the Council to support the agenda of the new Mayor for the good of the population.

Hotels, witch doctors make fast cash

Beyond the politicking that characterised the elections, witch doctors and hotel owners made fast cash, before the elections.

In Kumba, the councillors were caged for two days at two separate prominent hotels.Here, they were fed with goat meat and wine. In one of the campsbesides their envelopes, the Councillorswere given free pieces of the 2016 women’s day fabric.

On the spiritual side, witch doctors are said to have monitored the elections right into the voting hall. The witch doctors are said to have forced the councillors to take oaths before collecting their bribes to vote for a chosen candidate.

The installation of Chief Mokambe is pending a decision from the Minister of Territorial Administration that will confirm the decision of the councillors.