ELECAM Asked to Reinstate 120,000 Missing Names on Voter Register

The Coalition of Cameroon Federalist Groups and Activists (CCFGA) has raised alarm on the disappearance of 120,000 registered voters from the provisional electoral lists published by Elections Cameroon, (ELECAM) in October this year.

Their biometric data, including the fingerprints of the persons concerned, is missing, the elections body said.

In a statement issued November 1 and signed by its chairperson Michael Takie, CCFGA urged Cameroonians to monitor the activities of ELECAM at all stages of the electoral process.

It also said ELECAM should reinstate the names of voters missing from the electoral roll.

“The responsibility of ensuring that all voter registration equipment functions properly and that it accurately captures the biometric data of every voter, including their fingerprints, lies with ELECAM and not with the voters,” CCFGA affirmed.

It called on the director general of elections “to take all necessary steps to reinstate the 120,000 potential voters missing from the provisional voters lists.”

Cameroonians are expected to head to the polls next year for the country’s presidential elections.

According to CCFGA, Cameroon’s electoral body has the duty to conduct all stages of the electoral process objectively, impartially, and independently.

“All elections in Cameroon must be conducted in such a manner that their outcome reflects the will of the people to whom, under our country’s Constitution, national sovereignty belongs,” the group stated.

“The management of ELECAM at all levels has a duty to ensure that the electoral process is transparent, fair, and impartial so as to avoid any recourse to cheating or violence before, during, and after each election,” CCFGA added.

Suspecting foul play from ELECAM, the group called on Cameroonians to be vigilant and involved in the electoral process.

“To ensure the integrity of elections in Cameroon, citizens should engage in monitoring the actions of ELECAM at every stage of the process and denounce all observed irregularities,” it stated.

The group said it is committed to working with ELECAM, political parties, and civil society actors to ensure the will of voters prevails at every election.

“We urge all other stakeholders to do the same for the sake of justice, peace, and social cohesion in our country.”

Under President Paul Biya, who has been in power for 42 years now, elections in Cameroon have usually been marred by allegations of vote buying and rigging.