The North West Regional chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, Fonguh Cletus Tanwie, has called on the incoming Regional Delegate of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) to ensure that all polling stations are functional.
He made the call during the installation of the new ELECAM boss for the North West Region.
“People should be able to vote at their polling stations. They should not trek several distances just to vote. This is the reason why we had low voter turnout during the last Presidential and twin elections,” said Mayor Fonguh.
The idea of polling centers was first introduced during the 2018 presidential election, and the 2020 legislative and municipal elections.
ELECAM had blamed the shift from polling stations to polling centres on the armed conflict rocking the North West and South West regions, which turned voters and election officials into separatist targets.
Fonguh Cletus thinks maximum security should be provided while illegal polling centres are abolished, and polling stations maintained.
“Permit me to state clearly that polling centres are illegal and do not fall under any provisions of the electoral code,” Fonguh said.
Fonguh made the statements during the installation ceremony of Mbowoh Elvis as the new ELECAM boss for the North West Region.
The new ELECAM boss is installed at a crucial time Cameroon is preparing for four major elections.
The native of Lebialem in the South West Region will be charged with ensuring many more voters are registered in anticipation of the 2025 Presidential elections and the 2025 municipal and legislative elections.
