Councillors of Belo Municipality in Boyo Division of the North West Region have rejected a candidate reportedly imposed by the Central Committee of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement party for the position of Mayor.
The Councillors met in session on Monday, August 5, 2024, to elect a new Mayor following the demise of Dr Ngong Innocent.
The late Mayor, who was buried a few days ago, was shot dead on May 20, 2024, as he set out to commemorate Cameroon’s National Day.
The elective session of the Belo Council was hinged on Section 205, sub(1), of the decentralization law, which states that, “In the event of death, resignation, or dismissal of the Mayor or a Deputy Mayor, the Council board shall be convened to elect a new Mayor or Deputy Mayor within 60 days following the death, resignation, or dismissal.”
On this premise, the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) of Boyo, Saidou Moussa, convened the Councillors of Belo to elect a new Mayor for the Municipality.
However, the exercise ended in a deadlock as Councillors rejected the lone candidate imposed by the CPDM Central Committee.
The decentralization law reviewed by MMI shows no provision empowering political parties to impose candidates.
During the session, the Central Committee delegation, headed by Hon Wallang Richard Ebua, Member of Parliament for Menchum South, presented Councillor Ndiwum Gilbert, who doubles as the Regional Delegate of Housing and Urban Development, as the choice of the party.
Opposing the Central Committee’s choice, the Councillors unanimously asserted their prerogative to democratically select their preferred candidate.
This political tension in Belo is typical of CPDM’s maneuvers over the years, where the party has often fronted imposed candidates for elective positions under the guise of party discipline.
Following the deadlock in Belo, it remains unclear whether the party will allow internal democracy to prevail or sanction the dissenting Councillors.
At the time of this report, no developments had been noted regarding the reconvening of the Belo Council elective session.
Additional reporting was done by Kate Bih
