Display of Gadgets To Woo Electors

It is difficult to walk for a kilometre in the capital city, Yaounde since September 22, 2018 when  the campaign for the October 7, 2018 presidential election was officially launched without seeing scores of people wearing T-Shirts bearing President Paul Biya’s effigy and campaign messages. He is not only the Head of State but more importantly the candidate of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement.

To add to the T-Shirts are caps, mufflers, watches, umbrellas, headscarf and campaign fabrics sown in all attractive styles. When one moves from one neighbourhood to another in Yaounde where door-to-door campaign teams are using every method to woo electors, one discovers people wearing and  displaying most of the gadgets. It is easy to know a neighbourhood where the campaign caravan had passed judging from the number of people who wear the gadgets either because they are followers of President Paul Biya, or they just want to get new dresses, umbrellas, caps or watches.

Rally grounds of President Paul Biya are veritable venues for the demonstration of the candidate’s strength through the gadgets on display. Candidates in the October 2018 presidential poll have spent billions of FCFA to produce distinctive campaign gadgets, a powerful tool in cajoling electors besides their manifestos presented during rallies as well as radio and television programmes and debates.

The gadgets bear the colours of the party the candidate represents in the election. Akere Muna, candidate of the Popular Front for Development unveiled his attractive orange gadgets when he officially launched campaigns during a convention at the Yaounde Conference Centre on September 22, 2018. Before the official launching of the election campaign Joshua Osih, the candidate of the leading opposition party, Social Democratic Front  had even produced T-shirts and other gadgets bearing his effigy and campaign slogan that were worn during ...