Senator Vanigansen MoChiggle, First Vice National Chairperson of Cameroon’s Social Democratic Front (SDF), has publicly condemned his party’s recent decision to distance itself from him over allegations of participating in a ruling party event. In a press statement dated October 10, 2025, MoChiggle described the move as “dishonest, unjustified, and politically motivated.”
The controversy stems from an official SDF communiqué issued on October 3, 2025, which claimed that Senator MoChiggle had attended a rally organized by the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) in Bamenda. The statement alleged that the senator’s participation amounted to “anti-party behaviour.”
The Governor’s Invitation and the Minister’s “Ambush”
In his detailed rebuttal, Senator MoChiggle said he had been invited by the Governor of the Northwest Region to attend a high-level security meeting chaired by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji.
According to the senator, the gathering also included MPs, mayors, divisional officers, and regional delegates, and was followed by a distribution ceremony of relief materials to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and motorcycle riders.
However, during the ceremony, Minister Atanga Nji reportedly praised President Paul Biya and introduced MoChiggle as a senator appointed by the Head of State, a moment the senator described as an “embarrassing ambush” captured in video footage that later circulated online.
“I was conned by the Minister, who inflicted a below-the-belt blow to score political points,” MoChiggle said. “How can participating as a Senator in the distribution of assistance to IDPs be termed a CPDM rally?”
Tensions Within the SDF Leadership
Beyond the immediate controversy, the senator’s statement revealed deep-seated internal divisions within the SDF. Senator MoChiggle accused SDF Secretary-General Njong Donatus, who signed the disciplinary communiqué, of hostility and dishonesty, alleging that personal rivalries and power struggles have eroded party unity.
“I have been ostracized since I won internal elections as vice president against Secretary-General Njong, a favourite of Chairman Hon. Joshua Osih,” MoChiggle wrote. “I have been kept in the dark about party matters and excluded from key meetings.”
He lamented what he described as the “weaponization of party statutes” to silence dissent, warning that the current leadership risks destroying the legacy of SDF founder Ni John Fru Ndi.
A Career of Loyalty Under Question
Senator MoChiggle reminded party members of his 35-year commitment to the SDF, saying he abandoned a senior civil service career to join the opposition movement in its early years. Despite internal turbulence, he claimed to have consistently defended the party’s reputation in difficult times.
“It is unacceptable to bully people we disagree with. I have served with loyalty and sacrifice, believing the SDF best represents the aspirations of the Cameroonian people,” he declared.
A Party at a Crossroads
The dispute highlights ongoing factionalism within the SDF, once Cameroon’s most influential opposition force. Following the death of its long-time leader Ni John Fru Ndi, in 2023, the party has faced internal divisions over leadership, strategy, and relations with the ruling establishment.
As of press time, neither Chairman Joshua Osih nor Secretary-General Njong Donatus had issued additional statements responding to Senator MoChiggle’s accusations.
Political analysts say the episode underscores the fragility of opposition unity in Cameroon, as the SDF seeks to regain credibility ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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