By Daniel D.
The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has lauded Elections Cameroon (Elecam) for its efforts in registering voters ahead of the 2025 presidential elections.
This commendation came during a consultation visit that Elecam officials paid to the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT).
The Elecam delegation, led by its Director General, Erik Essousse, and Board Chair, Enow Abrams Egbe, presented an update on the voter registration process.
Elecam announced in January the total number of registered voters in the country stood at 7,361,875.
Since then, an additional 144,817 new voters, comprising 90,124 men and 54,693 women, were registered between January and March 27, 2024.
MINAT described the recent meeting as a routine consultation between the electoral body and the government’s representative in the electoral process, aimed at evaluating the ongoing voter registration operation.
Minister Atanga Nji expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being carried out in the field and the close collaboration between Elecam and political parties.
“However, he recalled that registration on the electoral lists is a voluntary operation and not compulsory, as is done in certain places,” the Ministry said in a statement.
As a key stakeholder in Cameroon’s elections, MINAT plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth conduct of electoral processes.
With the upcoming 2025 presidential elections, the government is keen on facilitating a transparent and credible electoral process.
There have been calls for massive voter registration, with some opposition leaders demanding a reformation of the electoral law.
Despite Elecam’s role in conducting elections, the Constitution mandates only the Constitutional Council to declare election results.
To ensure adherence to electoral laws and regulations, MINAT closely monitors electoral issues.
Since the reintroduction of multiparty politics in Cameroon, MINAT has played a pivotal role in organizing elections.
In 1992, the Ministry was responsible for conducting elections before the establishment of the National Election Observatory and later Elections Cameroon.
