CPDM Records Sweeping Victories in South West

There has been little shift in the political landscape of the region after the September 30, 2013 local council polls.

The September 30 Legislative and Municipal elections have come and gone with little shift in the political status quo of the South West Region as far as the control of the Councils is concerned.

Unlike in 2007 where the ruling CPDM party won 29 out of the 31 Councils in the region, the story is different this time around. The leading opposition party, the SDF, has made some gains and conquered new areas though President Paul Biya's party still occupies the lion's share of the Councils according to information from Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) Regional delegation in Buea.

Apart from Buea and Kumba, official results from the Council Supervisory Commissions charged with the declaration of results of Municipal elections in different Councils had not reached our newsroom at press time. But reliable information gathered from ELECAM indicates that the CPDM is at the forefront in the region.

According to information gathered from the ELECAM South West Regional Delegation, the CPDM party has won all the three Councils of Bangem, Nguti and Tombel in the Kupe Muanenguba Division just like all the nine Councils in Ndian Division (Mundemba, Ekondo Titi, Isangele, Dikome Balue, Toko, Bamusso, Kombo Abedimo, Kombo Itindi and Idabato) councils. The CPDM has reconquered Toko Council area which the party lost to the opposition SDF in 2007.

In Lebialem Division, the story is the same with the CPDM dominance over SDF, PAP and UNDP parties that ran for the three Councils of Menji, Alou and Wabane. Meanwhile, the party in power also outpowered Ayah Paul's PAP in Mamfe and also consolidated its grip of Eyumoujock and Tinto. However, ELECAM sources said the results from Akwaya, PAP's stronghold that was stiffly contested by the CPDM, were yet to reach the regional office by press time.

In Fako Division, the Limbe I, II and III Councils as well as Muyuka , Idenau and Buea have been swept away by the CPDM with an absolute majority while the SDF recorded an overwhelming victory in Tiko beating the CPDM and the UNDP parties out rightly.

SDF greatest strides were recorded in Meme Division where the party retained the Kumba II Council and battled hard to unseat the CPDM in Kumba I and Kumba III. Reports from our correspondent in Kumba indicate that the Kumba I and III Councils will have to be shared between the SDF, CPDM and ANDP. According to the Council Supervisory Commission reports, no party won with absolute majority. The SDF will occupy 19 seats, while the CPDM gets five seats and the ANDP a paltry one seat in both Kumba I and III Councils that were hitherto CPDM run councils.

The SDF will also have to share the Mbonge Council while CPDM maintains the Konye Council.