Elecam announces 461,000 new voters, Cabral Libii says not enough

Elections Cameroon (Elecam), the body responsible for managing elections in Cameroon, has reported the registration of 461,559 new voters between January and May 2024.

This brings the total number of registered voters in the country to 7,823,434 as Cameroon gears up for its triple elections next year.

The announcement was made during Elecam’s second ordinary session for 2024 in Yaoundé on Thursday.

The increase in voter registration comes amid calls from politicians, religious leaders, and civil society organizations for young people to enroll and participate in the elections if they desire a regime change.

Despite the seemingly impressive number of new registrations, Cabral Libii, an opposition party leader and president of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN), believes more efforts are needed.

“We are still pretty far from the count,” he wrote on Thursday.

Libii highlighted the urgency of voters registration, noting that it will close in 64 days for 2024.

“Only those registered will vote in the legislative and municipal elections of February 2025,” he said.

“In 2025, there will be no registration in January, February, and March due to local elections. There will also be no registrations in July, August, and September 2025, because the presidential electoral body will be convened three months in advance.”

Voter apathy, or the failure of registered voters to show up for elections, remains a significant political concern in Cameroon.

Hon. Joshua Osih, Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, says it is one of greatest political problems in Cameroon.

Of the 7.8 million registered voters, it is uncertain if up to two-thirds will turn out at polling stations next year.

The 2018 elections, where President Paul Biya secured 71.2 percent of the vote, saw a voter turnout of 53 percent from 6.6 million registered voters.

Opposition leaders argue that voter apathy is one of the reasons for President Biya’s extended tenure, which has lasted for 41 years.

©Mimi Mefo Info