Upholding Electoral Calendar

Commentary

Another new year has come with the usual expectations and speculations that go with any new beginning. But concerning the electoral calendar in Cameroon, there may be little room for doubts. The institution that has the responsibility to organise, manage and supervise all election and referendum operations in the country, “Elections Cameroon” abbreviated as “ELECAM” is definitely going to be ready for the departure signal to take off with the various electoral consultations that are provided for by the constitution this year.

Listening to President Paul Biya in his state of the nation address on 31 December, 2017, the phrase might have appeared void of details, but it had all the density and weight that such solemn declarations require, especially as it came from the Head of State.

“The year 2018 will be an important election year. All necessary measures will be taken to ensure that elections are held in peace and security.”

President Paul Biya said without further commentary. With the understanding that elections for parliamentary seats took place in 2013 for Senators and Members of Parliament as well as the Council elections and that of the President of the Republic in 2011 also makes the tenure of Mr Biya to end this year, it means all those polls will have to be in 2018.

Thus, when the President of the Republic said in his end of year message that all measures have been taken, those who have the responsibility either within the administration, ELECAM and other technical structures in the country have to start getting set. President Biya’s statement equally carried an important detail about peace and security which are important for such electoral exercises to take place. Not only the present context of insecurity in parts of the Far North and the social tension in the North West and South West Regions that has been degenerating, but the need for serenity at all levels in the handling of State affairs remains paramount.

Put within context, the declaration that “the completion of the establishment of the institutions provided for in the Constitution will contribute towards consolidating the rule of law and open a new page in our democratic process,” makes greater sense even to the most sceptics of listeners. For several years now the country has been involved in the democratization process with the reintroduction of multiparty politics.

In addition, the Constitutional provisions of a decentralised Unitary State have been progressively put in place and the need for Regional and Constitutional Councils are still being felt and such provisions could come up at anytime. Consequently, the President pointed out that “it is my firm belief that fast-tracking our decentralization process w...