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| Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla, Founder and President of CHRDA |
Cameroonian human rights lawyer Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla has called on young people and women interested in public office to begin preparing for the 2027 elections. The human rights advocate with decades of experience urged them to engage political parties early and familiarize themselves with the requirements for submitting their candidacies.
In a message issued in Buea in the South West Region, on Thursday, November 12, 2026, the Founder and President of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) shared a checklist detailing the documents and procedures prospective candidates must follow to contest the legislative and municipal elections.
The member of the Cameroon Bar and one of Cameroon's finest civic rights advocates reminded aspiring candidates that the deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, November 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Cameroon time.
Bartister Nkongho Felix, widely known as Agbor Balla, encouraged those planning to run to contact their preferred political parties without delay to understand their nomination procedures and internal deadlines. “I especially encourage young people and women who want to serve their communities to take this first step,” he said.
Documents required for candidates
According to the checklist, candidates contesting legislative elections must prepare the required documents for both substantive and alternate candidates. These include a nomination form in three copies, with candidates' signatures, a legalized birth certificate issued within the previous three months, a certificate of nationality, and a criminal record extract (Bulletin No. 3), also issued within the last three months.
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| Circular Signed by CHRDA |
Applicants, as stated by Barrister Agbor Balla, must also provide a declaration on honour confirming that they are not standing on another list and meet the eligibility requirements under the Electoral Code.
Other required documents include a tax certificate or exemption certificate, proof of registration on an electoral roll, the original receipt for payment of the candidacy deposit and a nomination certificate from the political party.
For municipal elections, the veteran lawyer and prominent human rights watchdog insisted that candidates must additionally provide a certificate of domicile or residence in the municipality they intend to contest, issued by the competent administrative authority.
Where and how to submit applications
Agbor Balla also outlined the designated offices for filing candidacy documents. For municipal elections, he emphasized that applications must be submitted to the ELECAM branch responsible for the municipality concerned.
Candidates contesting legislative elections must submit their files either to the relevant ELECAM divisional branch or the General Directorate of Elections. They are also required to ensure that a copy is immediately forwarded to the Constitutional Council and obtain an acknowledgement of receipt.
He advised prospective candidates to confirm the applicable forms and payment procedures with ELECAM, submit their files well before the deadline and keep their filing receipts.
Candidacy Fees
The checklist provided by the President of CHRDA further highlights the financial requirements for prospective candidates, with payments made to the Public Treasury. Under Section 183 of the Electoral Code, municipal election candidates are required to pay 50,000 FCFA each.
For legislative elections, Section 166 provides for a joint candidacy deposit of 1 million FCFA for each principal candidate and their alternate. The requirements are drawn from Sections 164 to 166 and 181 to 183 of Cameroon's Electoral Code.
Through the initiative, Agbor Balla encouraged prospective candidates, particularly women and young people, to take an early interest in the electoral process and prepare adequately rather than wait until the final days to begin assembling their nomination documents.
#Laarry Times
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