SDF officials drag Fru Ndi to court for violating party’s constitution

By Tata Mbunwe

Some 32 senior members of the Social Democratic Front party, SDF, have taken the party’s founder and Chair, John Fru Ndi, and the Secretary General, Djomgang Adeline, to court over claims that the have violated the party’s constitution in recent decisions taken.

Meeting in Bafoussam recently, the SDF officials, most who are from the West Region, levied several accusations against Fru Ndi, including the claim that has been appointing primarily English-speaking Cameroonians into strategic posts in the party.

Consequently, President Paul Biya’s long-time opposition leader John Fru Ndi has been called to appear at the Nfou Court of First Instance in Yaounde on February 9.

In a lengthy summons notice, the SDF officials said they “are rather surprised to witness a series of anti-statutory maneuvers, which tarnish the image of their party in the eyes of Cameroonian”.

They noted that the SDF Chair violated Article 18 of the party’s statutes in a resolution he issued on December 10, 2022. They criticised the merging of some SDF electoral colleges in Douala, stating that the decision stifles the expansion of the party amid a growing population.

They also believe John Fru Ndi’s decision on June 7, 2022, appointing members of the SDF shadow cabinet violated Articles 7 and 11 of the party’s laws.

They are demanding that the court cancels the above decisions and annul the appointment “appoint a chartered accountant to audit the accounts of the party and report to the party congress”.

The summoning of Fru Ndi come on the heels of the party’s elective general assembly scheduled for next month.

It is feared that the upheavals within the SDF will frustrate the upcoming general assembly.

Ni John Fru Ndi has not yet commented on the charges levied against him.

The 81-year-old told journalists at a press conference in Bamenda in December 2022 that he was going to step doing as SDF part Chair during the upcoming GA.