March 25 was a Sunday like no other in the NW
like elsewhere in Cameroon as councilors took to the polls to vote for
Cameroon’s Senators.
The voting day started timidly across the region following an avalanche of decisions both public and secret. Before campaigns for the elections could start, social media was inundated with calls for boycott from activist of the creation of an Ambazonia State made up of present day NW and SW regions. These calls were not empty; they were accompanied by threats to councilors who will dare vote in the elections.
The voting day started timidly across the region following an avalanche of decisions both public and secret. Before campaigns for the elections could start, social media was inundated with calls for boycott from activist of the creation of an Ambazonia State made up of present day NW and SW regions. These calls were not empty; they were accompanied by threats to councilors who will dare vote in the elections.
To indicate government’s readiness to face
any eventually, there was security deployment to all eight polling centers in
the region. As if that was not enough, NW Governor Adolph Lele L’Afrique on the
eve of elections day signed an order “suspending the circulation of motorbikes
within the entire North West Region and restricting movements of persons and
property from one Division to another on Sunday the 25th of March
2018 from 6am to 9pm.”
Though the motorbike riders will respect the
suspension timidly, the region became too calm with just a few shops or bars
opening as the military helicopter hovers over the region. Many have been quick to
link the timid resumption of economic activities in the region to either
misinformation as relates the governor’s order, solidarity with the bike riders
or the speculated ghost town which seem to characterize every day with a public
activity.
Bamenda
In Bamenda a few bikes could still be seen
circulating just like taxis and private cars and a few shops opened as over 250
councilors converged on Government Bilingual High School GBHS Bamendakwe to
vote. Though no major incidence was reported, the arrival of councilors seemed
to have been very coordinated as they arrived in groups voting and just
returning immediately as if they were being controlled by someone. Before it
was 2pm, the last Councilor had just voted.
Mbengwi
The embarrassment of the day seems to have
come from Mbengwi at GNS Mbengwi where a video Camera was discovered in the
room hosting the polling station. The Camera covered with a card board had a
storage device hidden in the ceiling. The issue became a point of attraction
coming at the time NW Governor was arriving Mbengwi as he toured the region
visiting polling stations. As councilors insisted the Camera and saver be
destroyed, security was firm on protecting it with the governor describing it as
a small issue which will be handled. No one has claimed ownership of the
equipment but fingers are pointing at those who were threatening councilors and
calling for a boycott, those who gave money to councilors and wanted to ensure
they voted for them and even security though they have not made a declaration
on it. Many including SDF National Chairman John Fru Ndi, Supreme State Audit
minister Mbah Acha, Outgoing Senator Awanga Zacharia, The SDO and DO for the
area immediately showed up at the polling station upon getting information
about the unfortunate development.
Nkambe
and Kumbo
Reports from Nkambe talked of a generally
calm day with no major incidence. However the stopping of vehicles from
circulating was enough to fuel some anger despite the availability of bars and
drinking spots. Councilors filed into Government Primary School Group One Nkambe
in peace to perform their duty. Similar reports came from Kumbo as Tobin hosted
the voting exercise. At Press time all was going well.
Menchum
The lack of electricity in Menchum was
quickly resolved with a standby generator at GBHS Wum to permit the 107
councilors perform their duty. Though bikes and vehicles were not moving a few
businesses were open with all going as prayed for by the President of the
Polling Station Rev Mary Akwaduh at the start of voting. Military surveillance
was at top level with the Divisional Head of ELECAM for Menchum seen ensuring
the smooth functioning of the exercise.
Ndop
It was a dramatic arrival of Councilors in GBHS Ndop as they where driven in in a bus all at ones to perform their civic duty. Many wondered where they were altogether that they arrived at the same time. Out of the 107 councilors who were elected in 2013 across Ngoketunjia, only 100 could answer present for the voting of Senators in 2018. Six of the councilors could not make it to this day as they were taken away by death while one is in detention. Cameras have captured pictures of the Substantive Senators for the CPDM Dinga Ignatius Bayin and SDF Henry Kemede together in a cordial mode indicative of peace in the area.
Ndop
It was a dramatic arrival of Councilors in GBHS Ndop as they where driven in in a bus all at ones to perform their civic duty. Many wondered where they were altogether that they arrived at the same time. Out of the 107 councilors who were elected in 2013 across Ngoketunjia, only 100 could answer present for the voting of Senators in 2018. Six of the councilors could not make it to this day as they were taken away by death while one is in detention. Cameras have captured pictures of the Substantive Senators for the CPDM Dinga Ignatius Bayin and SDF Henry Kemede together in a cordial mode indicative of peace in the area.