The parties have adopted various strategies to encourage their supporters to register.
Political parties who are the main beneficiaries of elections that help them to either accede to power and/or conserve power are already at work on the field using a myriad of strategies to cause their supporters and potential voters in general register in the ongoing biometric recompilation operation of voters' register in Cameroon.
President Paul Biya's ruling Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) has sent out support teams to all councils and has also been holding mobilisation sessions to encourage the party supporters and potential voters enrol on the register. The opposition parties without much publicity have equally been active on the field since the start of the operation.
Social Democratic Front
The National Secretary for Communication of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), Beatrice Annembom Monju in a telephone interview said the party has appointed representatives who are active in the Joint Voters Registration Commissions. Party officials go further to financially support the commission members to effectively carry out their mission of ensuring the strict respect of the law in relation to registration. Beatrice Annembom disclosed that in the days ahead, the National Chairman of the SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi will undertake a tour of the nation to create awareness and mobilise potential voters to register in preparation for upcoming elections. In the meantime, the SDF has opted for a door-to-door mobilisation. During the proximity campaign, she said, SDF supporters are encouraged to listen to the radio and other media to know where the registration commissions are at work.
National Union for Democracy and Progress
The National Union for Democracy and Progress (NUDP) with six Members of Parliament in the ongoing eighth legislative period of the National Assembly started mobilising supporters for registration after its congress that held from February 19 to 22, 2012 in Yaounde. The party's Assistant National Communication Secretary, Kuma Peter Kombain told Cameroon Tribune that the ongoing re-organisation of the grassroots structures that end in November 2012, is an opportunity to mobilise supporters to register. This is an indication that party officials are in permanent contact with the grassroots supporters. NUDP, representatives are also active in the Joint Voters Registration Commissions.
Cameroon Democratic Union
Dr Adamou Ndam Njoya's Cameroon Democratic Union (CDU) has sent representatives to the registration commissions and organises meetings to encourage supporters register. The party's National Communication Officer, Ahidjo Mongwat said that today, October 31, a meeting to evaluate the conduct of the operation will hold in Douala II Council. On November 1, 2012, there will be an evaluation meeting for all Councils of Douala. He said the party also envisages gathering supporters and potential voters and inviting the registration team to register them on the spot. Meanwhile, they have been encouraging people to register despite complaints of the slow nature of the operation.
The Union des populations du Cameroun (UPC) according to Samuel Mbon, the Press manager of the Louka Basile faction, is active on the field. The party has gone further to appoint coordinators at all levels to ensure that supporters register and respect of the law governing the operation. Barrister Bernard Muna's Alliance of Progressive Forces (APF), its Secretary General, Alice Sadio said, is also involved in the operation despite complaints that the entire electoral process will not be biometric.
