The chairman of Cameroon's Social Democratic Front (SDF), Hon. Joshua Osih Nambangi, has pledged to strengthen the party's preparations for the 2027 legislative and municipal elections after presiding over a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Bamenda.
The meeting, held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, brought together senior party officials from across the country to assess the state of the SDF, review developments on the national and international scenes, and adopt a series of resolutions aimed at positioning the opposition party ahead of future electoral contests.
In its final communiqué, the NEC praised party members for what it described as their resilience and commitment, citing the strong turnout at the Bamenda meeting despite the challenges facing the North West Region. The committee also commended SDF supporters for their participation in Cameroon's National Day celebrations and activities marking the party's 36th anniversary in May.
A major outcome of the meeting was the creation of a National Electoral Preparedness Commission, which will be tasked with identifying and recruiting potential candidates in constituencies where the party currently lacks aspirants. The commission will also oversee preparations for the 2027 municipal and legislative elections.
Hon. Joshua Osih and the NEC encouraged aspiring candidates to begin mobilizing supporters and working closely with party structures at the grassroots level, stressing that no constituency should be considered beyond the reach of the SDF. The party also called on its members nationwide to intensify voter registration efforts before the close of the electoral registration period in August 2026.
Beyond internal party matters, the NEC devoted considerable attention to what it described as the country's worsening political, economic, and security challenges.
The committee strongly condemned the continued violence in Cameroon's North West and South West regions, denouncing the killing of civilians and military personnel, kidnappings, rape, looting, and the destruction of property. It renewed calls for peace and stability in the conflict-affected areas.
Under the leadership of the national chairman, the NEC also approved a series of private members' bills addressing issues including feminicide, infanticide, national cohesion, tribalism, constitutional governance, and the recognition of slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity. The party instructed its Members of Parliament to table the proposals during the June 2026 parliamentary session.
The SDF further criticized what it described as political inertia and economic stagnation in Cameroon, linking the country's growing poverty levels to governance failures and corruption. In particularly strong language, the committee accused authorities of allowing the systematic exploitation of the country's mining, forestry, and petroleum resources through opaque contracts and large-scale embezzlement of public funds.
The NEC also expressed concern over what it termed the erosion of legal certainty in Cameroon's land tenure system. According to the party, the increasing cancellation and reassignment of land certificates by administrative authorities threaten property rights, discourage investment, and fuel social tensions. It called for comprehensive reforms to strengthen legal protections for landowners and improve transparency in land administration.
The committee additionally condemned what it described as intimidation, harassment, and politically motivated actions against opposition members, particularly in the North West and South West regions. It urged administrative and security authorities to act impartially and respect the rights guaranteed to all citizens under the law.
Education was another major issue discussed during the meeting. The NEC expressed concern over recent controversies surrounding the General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations, saying reported irregularities had damaged public confidence in one of the country's most respected academic institutions. The party called for an independent investigation into the allegations and reaffirmed its support for the Anglo-Saxon educational subsystem and the Cameroon GCE Board.
On international affairs, the committee welcomed the April visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon, praising his calls for peace, good governance, and responsible public management. It also condemned rising xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa and called for stronger protection of African migrants on the continent.
The NEC instructed Joshua Osih to deepen relations between the SDF and its international partners as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and enhance the party's engagement on the global stage.
Image Credit - Abakwa FM.
@Laarry Times
Comments
Post a Comment