The CPDM and the SDF are destroying our democracy

Ever since the beginning of the current parliamentary mandate which started in 2013 and is expected to end in 2018, five Cameroonian elected officials have died. They are Senator Lucas Njifua Fontem (2nd April 2014), Senator Francis Nkwain (19th October 2014), Senator Stephen Jikong Yerima (15 November 2014), Hon. Jean-Claude Mpacko Kotto (19 March 2014) and Hon. Viche Taga (August 21, 2015).

As provided by law, their replacement should be carried out through by-elections. But the subject does not seem to bother anyone in the House of Senate and the National Assembly, let alone Etoudi. Both the legislative and the executive branches of the Cameroon government are aware that issues pertaining to vacancy are regulated by the Electoral Code. We of this publication understand that Sections 154 and 155 including Article 219 paragraphs 1 and 3 all speaks of the replacement of a deceased member of parliament and of the House of Senate. Paragraph 3 even makes it easier for President Biya to appoint in case of death of a senator, a new person to complete the term.

Upon observation, this law has never been respected in that cursed triangle call Cameroon-and even the SDF which pride itself as the main opposition party in the country is aware but for some reason has refused to raise a finger. Some parliamentarians of both the ruling CPDM crime syndicate and the SDF have evoked cyclical reasons to justify the failure on the part of the Cameroon government to comply with its own rules and regulations. Recently, a group of CPDM MPs cited the Boko Haram security situation facing the country and claimed it has engulfed much of our nation's resources. It is true and the little that is remaining is for the Cameroonian dictator to lavish it in five star hotels in Europe. 

Hon. Jean-Michel Nintcheu, SDF MP said in the columns of a sister publication; Mutations that "financial reasons can certainly be raised but they do not justify the fact that this law has never been applied.” The reason why the SDF is maintaining a kind of silence of the lamb is understandable and it dates back to the 2007-2013 parliamentary term of office. During that period, we lost 11 members of parliament who were never replaced. The non-application of the electoral law at the time was going to have a negative consequence on the Social Democratic Front. To be sure, the SDF which had 16 deputies was left without a parliamentary group following the disappearance of Hon. Boujung and Hon. Nkelle Palmy.

Hon. Joseph Mbah Ndam and his gang were allowed to form a parliamentary group with 14 members of parliament instead of 15 as required by law. So, it has now become a kind of best practice not to replace elected officials when they die. In the Senate, a successor to the late Senator Francis Nkwain is yet to be appointed by the President of the Republic. Cameroon is indeed at the mercy of Biya, his appointees and his SDF collaborators. The CPDM and the SDF are destroying our democracy.