Obala Authorities Draw Criticisms After Prohibiting SDF Rally

By Njong Shey 

The Social Democratic Front (SDF) postponed a political rally which was supposed to hold on Friday, May 23, in Obala, Centre Region, after the town’s municipal authorities prohibited the event from taking place.

In a communique on Saturday, May 24, the SDF said a new date for the rally would be communicated.

The opposition party said the Obala authorities barred the rally from holding on the pretext that the host venue was “unavailable”.

SDF Condemns Rally Prohibition

In the communique signed by Nguidjol Ngan, SDF Shadow Cabinet Minister of Information and Media, the party strongly condemned what it said are “irresponsible and unjustified conducts” of the administrative and municipal authorities of Obala.

However, the party has urged all its militants, especially those in the Obala Electoral District, to remain calm and to intensify grassroots mobilisation, voter registration efforts, and recruitment of electoral agents — crucial steps toward towards the upcoming Presidential election.

Envy From Authorities?

The SDF said it strongly believed that the decision to ban the rally “appears to be driven by the authorities’ discomfort following the massive turnout of SDF militants during the May 20th parade in Obala — a demonstration of support that continues to unsettle local officials”.

According to the party, when they learned of the prohibition, the SDF Regional Chair for the Centre Region was dispatched urgently to Obala in the early hours Friday to continue negotiations initiated on Thursday night.

They proposed an alternative venue — the Obala Municipal Stadium.

“This proposal was categorically rejected by the authorities,” the SDF said.

“Given this impasse, the party’s senior leadership has decided to postpone the rally to a later date, which will be communicated in due course,” it added.

However, the SDF reassured its supporters that every effort is being made to ensure that the Obala rally will be rescheduled and held in the coming days.

A few months back, some over 30 members of the ruling CPDM party in Ocala decamp to SDF

Upcoming SDF Anniversary

On Monday, the party will commemorate its 35th anniversary since creation on May 26, 1990.

The day will also enable militants to pay tributes to party comrades that were killed during its launch in Bamenda, Northwest region.

The SDF, which was the main opposition in Cameroon for years, saw its popularity dwindle following a separatist war in its fiefs in the North West and South West regions.

However, the party has been gaining momentum in the past few months and leveraged on the just-ended National Day celebrations on May 20 to announce its presence in most parts of the country.