Nomination Papers Must Respect The Law

The Chairman of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, Dr Fonkam Azu'u Samuel has called on political parties currently compiling the files of their candidates to run for the September 30, 2013 twin municipal and legislative elections to strictly respect the Electoral Code on matters of qualification of candidates and documents for their files. He declared that ELECAM will thoroughly scrutinize the nomination papers of candidates to ensure conformity with the law.

Dr Fonkam Azu'u spoke yesterday, July 11, 2013 as he chaired the opening ceremony of the fourth Consultation Forum between ELECAM and other stakeholders of the electoral process at the Yaounde Conference Centre. Besides ELECAM officials, the forum was also attended by representatives of the administration, legalized political parties, judiciary and invited civil society organizations. Coming almost six weeks to the holding of the municipal and legislative elections, the forum held on the theme, "Evaluation of the biometric recompilation of voters' registers and preparations for the legislative and municipal elections."

Concerning the biometric recompilation of the registers, the summary form illustrating voter registration as of July 2, 2013 indicate that 5,592,302 voters registered. The statistics distributed to the stakeholders indicate that 5,468,652 registered as of March 29, 2013 when the normal registration period ended. During the period of extension that ran from May 22, 2013 to June 2, 2013, when electors were called to the polls, 123,650 new voters registered. The total registration rate is 80 per cent of the expected number of 7,008,704 potential voters. Dr Fonkam while talking to the press said over 5.5 voter cards were available with more than two million of them already distributed.

The consultation forum was therefore used to brief the stakeholders of the electoral process on preparations for upcoming elections. It was an occasion to obtain a national consensus of the stakeholders on the Code of Conduct on good practices before, during and after the twin elections. The Code of Conduct was first adopted in September 2011 prior to the presidential election.

The stakeholders were once more reminded of their respective roles, provided information on the electoral process. The Chairman of ELECAM urged stakeholders to appropriate sections of the Electoral Code governing the two elections and sensitise voters to collect their cards. "If all the cards are collected we will attain the objective of participation and legitimacy of the people to be voted to the Councils and National Assembly," he said.