The Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) has launched its regional election campaign in the North West with an unmistakable message: unity, loyalty, and massive mobilization must define the November 30 vote. The campaign, which kicked off on Saturday, November 15, at the Bamenda Congress Hall, brought together the party’s top brass, elected officials and municipal councillors from across the region, each reminded of the responsibility they bear in securing an unchallenged victory.
At the centre of the event was Philemon Yang, head of the CPDM regional campaign team and former Prime Minister, who used his address to underscore the centrality of party discipline. Speaking firmly, Yang cautioned councillors against personal grievances that could jeopardize party cohesion, insisting instead on total adherence to CPDM principles.
“All our militants, all our regional councillors, all our municipal councillors are creations of the CPDM,” he said. “If the CPDM weren’t in place, you wouldn’t be where you are. Sometimes people think that because they didn’t get a contract or money, they can show they’re more intelligent. Please, all militants at all levels must respect the discipline of our party in all places and at all times.”
Yang encouraged councillors to anchor their campaign efforts on the achievements of the North West Regional Assembly’s first mandate. He noted that despite the region’s security and logistical challenges, the assembly had succeeded in driving development to all corners of the region. From the Peace and Development Initiative (PDI) that reached all 34 subdivisions, to youth empowerment programmes acknowledged by the Minister of Decentralization Georges Elanga Obam, Yang argued that the assembly had laid a foundation worthy of voter confidence.
“The Regional Assembly has done much despite the difficulties,” he said. “The process of decentralization is now irreversible. The assembly will continue to revive local cultures, reinforce our region’s pivotal role in national stability, and enhance local democracy.”
Although the CPDM list runs unopposed in the House of Divisional Representatives, comprising 70 seats, competition is alive in the House of Chiefs, where multiple lists have emerged as traditional rulers vie for the 20 available seats. Yet for the ruling party, the lack of opposition in one chamber is not a reason for complacency. Instead, party officials insist that voter turnout, loyalty and a 100 percent victory remain critical.
The North West Regional Assembly, now entering its second electoral cycle, has set itself apart nationally. Its five-year track record includes the construction of an emergency centre at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, ongoing works on a regional dry port, rehabilitation and expansion of district hospitals, and new science laboratories in secondary schools. The region also pioneered the first North West Economic Forum, which boosted the growth of startups and encouraged local investment.
Welcoming the CPDM hierarchy to Bamenda, Felix Mbayu, leader of the CPDM Mezam campaign team praised the people of the North West for “choosing stability over anarchy,” especially in the wake of the recently concluded presidential election. He stressed the importance of the November polls, describing them as crucial to consolidating the region’s development path.
“The CPDM was born of the dream of a great statesman, and in this party, we dream while working to make that dream a reality,” Mbayu said. “These elections are cardinal. We must work hard to ensure all our councillors are fully on board.”
The party used the occasion to present the over 70 individuals shortlisted to represent the region in the Regional Assembly, reaffirming the objective of delivering a resounding victory at the polls.
On election day, voting will take place at divisional headquarters across the region, with municipal councillors serving as the electoral college. As campaigning intensifies, the CPDM is placing its trust in the cohesion of its base and counting on councillors to translate decades of party loyalty into another sweeping win for the North West.
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