Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh has wrapped up pre-campaign meetings with Ministers and Parliamentarians of the ruling party to lay down strategies to get President Paul Biya re-elected. The Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic called the meeting and said it was on the instructions of the Head of State.
CPDM members of government, members of parliament, and senators attended the meetings at the Unity Palace.
The politicians from the 10 regions of Cameroon held the meetings for over a week, brainstorming strategies to secure Biya’s re-election.
President Paul Biya, who is chairman of the CPDM party, is 92 and has been ruling since 1982.
He has not revealed whether he will contest this year’s election or not. However, various attendees of the meetings at the presidency stated that Biya will be their candidate.
According to Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo, Minister of Higher Education who is Secretary of Communication in the CPDM, Biya’s candidacy is 100 percent certain.
To others, like the Third Vice President of the Senate, Nfor Tabetando, Biya’s candidacy is non-negotiable.
What Next?
Though the meetings have rounded off, no official declaration has been made so far.
It is likely that the CPDM plans to communicate when the electorate must have been convened.
As per the Electoral Code, the president has until July 12 to convene the electors. After that, the various aspirants can start submitting their candidacy files to Elections Cameroon (ELECAM).
Election ‘Fever’
More than 20 politicians have declared their intentions to run for presidency. Even within the ruling CPDM party, where militants have often claimed that President Biya is a “natural candidate”, at least two members have declared their intentions to run on behalf of the party.
As political tensions continue to build, so are talks about an opposition coalition.
However, the opposition is not yet unanimous about a coalition. It is also not clear who could lead the coalition if it is formed.
