The deadline is near and while political parties are finalising their files to meet the deadline of midnight July 17, 2013 for the submission of election nomination papers
, ELECAM Divisional and Council offices have set the stage for reception as per the April 19, 2012 law on the Electoral Code, amended and supplemented on December 21, 2012. It states in paragraph 2 of Section 164 that;" Such nomination papers shall be submitted and registered, against a receipt, at the General Directorate of Elections or at the Divisional Branch of Elections Cameroon of the Constituency concerned. A copy thereof shall immediately be sent to the Constitutional Council by the candidate or his representative, against acknowledgement of receipt."
Divisional branches of ELECAM like that of Mfoundi in Yaounde where receipts of nomination papers for legislative elections as stipulated by the Electoral Code, have completed arrangements for the exercise. "All is set," the Mfoundi Divisional Head for ELECAM, Florent Léopold Ehongo Bessala said, explaining that a software has been put in place to process nomination papers as they are received, not leaving out the hitherto manuscript form of registration. Staff have been mobilised and with a hall put aside to receive files and they are aware of the assignment that awaits them.
At the Yaounde I ELECAM Council office at Rue Draggages in Mballa II, the ambiance was calm yesterday July 15, 2013. Three offices were already set aside for the exercise. "We have put in place an office where we intend to welcome candidates, one to orientate, verify and process their files electronically and the last one to receive, register and issue receipts," explained Yves Zanga, Head of Yaounde I Council Branch. An evaluation meeting with staff is expected to hold after the reception of all the files before forwarding to the Directorate General of Elections. The branch office as others, is expected to receive nomination papers of candidates for council elections as Section 181 (1) of the Electoral Code specifies.
"I am not yet on seat and sorry, no one can talk in my absence," the Branch Head for ELECAM II in Mbankolo told Cameroon Tribune on phone. But the atmosphere there was like that of Yaounde VI near the National Gendarmerie in Melen where we met staff attending to Cameroonians, most of them, withdrawing their voters' cards.
Experience from the April 14, 2013 election of the country's first-ever Senators, Florent Léopold Ehongo Bessala and Yves Zanga said, shows that most political parties submit their nomination papers on D-day and most often, during the last hours to deadline. However, ELECAM branch heads say they are, waiting for any eventualities.
