Cameroon's leading opposition party, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) will on October 12 to 14, 2012 hold an elective National Convention in Bamenda to renovate its ruling organ, the National Executive Committee (NEC), beginning with the National Chairperson. The Standing Orders of the SDF National Convention adopted in the party's ordinary convention in Bafoussam from July 29 to 31, 1993, outlines the procedures for accession to the post of SDF National Chairperson as well as to positions in NEC.
Primaries
Part III of the SDF Standing Orders is essentially devoted to the election of the members of the National Executive Committee. Rule 10 paragraph one states that, "Every office, be that of assistant, deputy or vice shall constitute a post for the purpose of election of members of the National Executive Committee." Every prospective candidate is entitled to present his/her nomination only for one post.
Nominations are opened five months to the convention by the National Secretariat. The nomination forms are deposited on the smallest basic organ of the SDF which is the Ward. The Ward Assembly conducts a primary for the posts with more candidates and those with the highest number of votes cast declared the candidates of the Ward. The Ward Chairpersons within one month submit to the higher organ, the Electoral District nomination papers of their candidates. Primaries are once more conducted at the level of the Electoral Districts during a District Conference and the nomination papers of successful candidates submitted to the Provincial Executive Committee within a month. This therefore, permits the holding of the Provincial Conference during which primaries take place. For example, on August 24, 2012 the North West Regional primaries were conducted with incumbent SDF National Chairman, John Fru Ndi voted the North West candidate to the post of National Chairperson. North West candidates to other positions in NEC were also elected.
Electing NEC Members
In the upcoming convention, candidates vying for the various positions in the National Executive Committee from all Regions will stand for election. 10 Days to the convention, the SDF National Secretariat will have to publish the names of candidates to the various posts. The election is conducted by the Sub-committee for the Conduct of Elections. The election has to be by direct and secret ballot. The retaining officer after the election will announce the number of votes cast for each candidate and the candidate with the highest number of votes cast declared elected for the post in question. "Installation of the National Executive Committee shall take place at the last plenary session of the convention, during which the National Chairperson-elect shall present his/her inaugural speech and plan of action," Rule 12 paragraph 10 of the SDF Standing Orders specifies.
