Atanga Nji salutes serenity of Senate Elections, despite Separatist threats

By Tata Mbunwe

Cameroon’s third Senate Elections held hitch free in the embattled Northwest and Southwest Regions, despite earlier warnings by Ambazonia separatists against the elections, said Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji.

He was speaking at a press briefing in Yaounde shortly after voting ended for the elections on Sunday, March 12.

Most parts of the two English-speaking regions had been locked down on the eve of the elections due to Separatist threats.

As part of their opposition of the elections, the Ambazonians had imposed a lockdown on the two regions on Sunday, triggering heavy militarisation of Divisional headquarters where voting took place.

Despite the security tension that reigned in areas like Bamenda, Kumbo, Menji, Ndop and Mundemba, the elections were never disturbed, Minister Atanga Nji admitted.

He also claimed no irregularities were recorded that could tarnish the authenticity of elections results.

Noting that more than 3,000 national and international observers covered the elections, he said he hoped they will produce “objective reports that show its free, transparent and credible character”.

MMI learned voting took place in all 58 Divisional headquarters in the country, and no security incident was recorded in the 13 Divisions of the Northwest and Southwest Regions.

The ruling CPDM party also won all 14 senatorial seats in the two regions.