The Social Democratic Front (SDF) Party is set to unveil an ambitious and revolutionary political programme in their upcoming convention. The party will also be electing its flagbearer for the upcoming presidential elections. It is one of the few parties in Cameroon that practices internal democracy, through primaries to elect presidential candidates.
However, with just a day left before the Party’s Extraordinary Convention, no member apart from its chairman, Hon. Joshua Osih, has publicly expressed interest in representing the party in the presidential elections scheduled for October this year.
The deadline for aspirants to submit their applications expired on February 8. The convention, set for Saturday, March 1, at the Yaoundé Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, will designate the party’s flag bearer for the upcoming elections.
The SDF has a long-standing tradition of holding primaries to determine its presidential candidate. However, so far, no other member has publicly declared their intention to run against Osih.
Osih, in addition to being SDF chairman, serves as the Member of Parliament for Wouri Centre in Douala, Littoral region. The 56-year-old was elected SDF chairman on October 28, 2023, following the passing of his predecessor, the charismatic Ni John Fru Ndi.
If he secures the nomination on Saturday, it will mark his second presidential bid on the SDF ticket. He first won the SDF primary in 2018 in Bamenda but finished fourth in the presidential elections behind Paul Biya, Maurice Kamto, and Cabral Libii.
This year, the grassroots party is adopting a different strategy to attract voters.
Osih Tours All Ten Regions
Last year, Hon. Joshua Osih toured all ten regions of Cameroon, leading an SDF delegation that engaged with voters across the country.
The tour aimed to better understand the challenges Cameroonians face and explore how the SDF could address them. Citizens had the opportunity to voice their concerns, while Osih’s team sensitized them on democracy, governance, and economic issues.
However, the tour faced disruptions in a village in the South region, a stronghold of President Paul Biya, 92, who is expected to seek re-election. Despite this setback, the SDF was able to reach out to its supporters and militants in the region.
SDF to Unveil Political Programme at Convention
Beyond selecting its presidential candidate, the SDF will also use Saturday’s convention to unveil its political programme.
“The SDF Political Programme is for both the 2025 presidential election and the 2026 legislative and municipal elections,” the party said in a statement.
“We urge all statutory members to attend this significant gathering as we shape the future of our party and our country together,” it added.
On Thursday, February 27, members responsible for drafting the political programme met in Yaoundé ahead of the convention.
“We’re putting the final touches on ‘The SDF’s Rescue Plan for Cameroon,’” the party’s communication desk stated, adding that after months of hard work, discussions with experts, and engagement with Cameroonians, they were proud of their achievements.
“Can’t wait to share our vision for the nation on Saturday,” the party said.
Founded in 1990, the SDF has long positioned itself as Cameroon’s progressive frontline opposition, advocating for democracy, social justice, and economic development through a federal system of government.
However, since the onset of the Anglophone crisis in the North West and South West regions, the party’s influence has waned. This has been due largely to persistent attacks by armed separatists. High-ranking members of the party lost their lives to separatist violence, and many, including the late chairman Ni John Fru Ndi, faced multiple kidnappings. The SDF insists that, crisis or no crisis, it will regain its lost prominence this year.
