Candidates aspiring for the vacant chairmanship position of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) shall have to pay the sum of 7MFCFA to qualify as an eligible candidate.
The information is conttained in the resolutions arrived at by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, which took place in Odza, in Yaoundé. It is a massive shift from the previous sum of 50,000FCFA formerly deposited as caution from past candidates.
Many potential candidates and other party members of the SDF have criticized this move, claiming it is a scheme by Joshua Osih to block potential opponents from rivaling him for the seat.
Reacting to this however, NEC in a statement pointed out that “…It is an application fee of 7 Million FCFA put forth by the NEC. It was not a decision of Joshua Osih.”
The statement also revealed that the amount proposed was unanimously agreed after it was debated upon by the members of the party decision making organ.
The proposed amount by the executives is said to have begun from 1 million FCFA to over 20 million FCFA, before being finally put at 7 million FCFA by a unanimous decision.
As to why these exorbitant sum was voted by the executives, NEC has said it is because “the candidates must show proof of financial independence…”
The electoral congress of the SDF will take place in October 2023. It was postponed by the party as preparations for the burial of the late chairman have taken center stage.
The burial program begins on July 27, 2023 with an ecumenical service at the Yaoundé multipurpose sport complex. The remains will then be transported to Ntarikon, in Bamenda, North West Region then on July 29, 2023 to Baba 2, in his native village where he will be laid to rest.
By Mike Klaus
