‘They don’t know the constitution itself’– Fru Ndi replies SDF bigwigs who sued him

By Tata Mbunwe

Ni John Fru Ndi, Chair of the Social Democratic Front party, has told MMI in an exclusive phone chat that, he is ready to face the court and answer accusations tabled by some 32 party officials that he has violated the constitution.

He noted that they are the ones who violated the SDF constitution by failing to respect the procedure of handling differences, which involves tabling them during national executive committee meetings of the party.

“They are the people breaking the party constitution. They don’t know the constitution itself. When we meet as the national executive committee and, there are issues we disagree on, they can call for another meeting and request a review, but they did. They instead broke away and went to Mbouda, held their own meeting there,” Ni John Fru Ndi told MMI.

The SDF Chair, who had promised to step down from his position during the party’s elective general assembly coming up this year, will be appearing at the Mfou Court of First Instance in Yaounde on February 9.

He was summoned after 32 top members of the party sued him for violating several texts of the party’s constitution.

“Let’s go to court, only the court will decide. They should not run,” Fru Ndi said.

Responding to claims that he wants to hand pick a new party leader to replace him, someone whom he can control from behind, Fru Ndi said “we’ve never done that in the SDF.”

He added that the party has kept a reputation of democracy and transparency.

Since it was founded in 1990 by John Fru Ndi, the SDF party has been credited for advancing Cameroon’s democracy. It has also remained the highest opposition to President Paul Biya’s 40-year rule.

The party has however been losing its influence partly due to internal divisions among party members.

On January 26, at least 32 top officials of the SDF signed a summons letter that accuses Ni John Fru Ndi and SDF secretary general, Barrister Djomgang Adeline, for violating four flouting the party’s constitution in four decisions taken last year.

Asking the court to annul them, the SDF bigwigs said these decisions are “unacceptable” and “anti-democratic.”

Mimi Mefo Info