By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
Four militants of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) have been questioned by the party’s Central Committee Disciplinary Ad-hoc Commission, headed by former Prime Minister Peter Mafany Musonge.
The interrogation concerned their decision to challenge the official candidate list (investitures) decided by the CPDM National President and President of the Republic, Paul Biya, by presenting their own candidacies in the 16 December 2025 election for the Executive Bureaus of the Regional Councils.
Thierry Mvodo Jongo was summoned on grounds that he contested the National President’s list by standing for election as Secretary of the East Regional Council. Jonathan Ntsana was brought in to answer why he challenged Biya’s list by running for President of the East Regional Council.
Marcel Rodo was questioned for contesting the list by presenting his candidature as President of the Far North Regional Council. Gervais Eric Ndo was also interrogated on why he defied the party’s directive to stand for election as President of the South Regional Council.
In introductory statements at the hearings, the militants were reminded that, as CPDM members, they had accepted the obligation to respect the party’s constitution and internal regulations.
“In this light, Article 3 states that all members of the CPDM are committed to respecting its political line as well as the decisions of its governing organs, amongst which is the Central Committee, in line with Article 17 of the basic text,” they were told.
The Commission stated that during the 16 December elections, they had “deliberately and ostensibly” contested the party’s official candidate list, as decided by the National President, by standing for various positions.
“This attitude, with negative consequences for the party, constitutes a disciplinary fault in conformity with the provisions of Article 31 of the party text, which states that such an attitude is a fault by any member who refuses to apply decisions taken by the organs.”
Given the gravity of their behavior, seen as a direct challenge to the National President, they were summoned to appear before the Disciplinary Ad-hoc Commission on 22 January 2026 to answer the charges of indiscipline. In line with Article 30, paragraph 4 of the party text, they were offered the opportunity to be assisted in their defense by a fellow party member.
Separate Case of Electoral Disruption
A separate case of indiscipline involved Félix Jean Paul Ndjankoum, the Mayor of Somalomo. He was accused of presenting his candidature for the position of Bureau President of the CPDM Upper-Nyong Section II in Somalomo, despite his application being rejected under provisions of a circular from the National President.
The Commission stated that, following this decision, Ndjankoum proceeded to disrupt the electoral process. It was recalled that on 18 September 2021, while the electoral commission for Upper-Nyong II in Somalomo was examining candidates’ files, he forced his way into the commission’s headquarters alongside supporters. He then allegedly physically and verbally assaulted the Commission President and interfered with the candidate files from the Nkoulbekoul Sub-Section that were being processed.
“In the chaos, you took away some of the files and dumped them in the Dja River. It took the intervention of the security forces and the Senior Divisional Officer who were on site for calm to be restored,” the Commission stated.
It was further recalled that, “on 19 September 2021, in continued obstruction of the electoral process, you incited your supporters to destroy the electoral lists posted at the Somalomo Centre polling station, thereby compromising the election of the CPDM Section Bureau.”
Ndjankoum was asked to defend himself against these allegations.
The verdict in these cases is awaited not only by the accused but by all observers monitoring the evolution of the democratic process in Cameroon.
