By Yerima Kini Nsom
Regional Councilors from the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) in the South Region have declared they will not allow the party hierarchy to disregard their collective will.
This firm stance is a direct reaction to the summons issued for their elected President, Eric Gervais Ndo, to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee on January 22, the eve of the Regional Council Executive’s installation ceremony.
The summons, signed by the Chair of the CPDM Disciplinary Committee, Peter Mafany Musonge, was issued on January 15. The Post understands that councilors’ are indignant, arguing that, as the elected representatives, they alone mandated Ndo for a five-year term. They have stated they will not accept any decision from the party leadership that contradicts their democratic choice.
In a tract circulated on social media, the South Regional Councilors are allegedly calling on all CPDM members in the region to gather at the party headquarters in Yaoundé on January 22 to support Ndo as he faces the disciplinary hearing.
The rift stems from events in December, when the councilors were accused of violating party discipline during the election of the Regional Council executive. They defied the party’s directive by voting against its invested candidate for the presidency of the South Regional Council.
Despite the presence of CPDM Central Committee envoy, Minister Joseph Le, the party’s South Regional head, Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo, and Minister Minette Libom Li Likeng, who all endorsed Antoine Bikoro Alo’o as the official candidate, councilors rejected him. Instead, they elected an independent candidate, Eric Gervais Ndo, as President.
The councilors’ rejection followed hours of delays marked by intense lobbying and behind-the-scenes negotiations. These talks escalated after the state’s representative, Governor Félix Nguele Nguele, suspended the plenary session. The session, which began at 11 am on Tuesday, December 16, did not conclude until the afternoon of Wednesday, December 17.
This outright rejection of the Central Committee’s candidate signals a notable dissent within the ruling party, which holds full control of the South Regional Council. It marks a rare instance of militants openly defying the party leadership. Eric Gervais Ndo, thereby, takes over the presidency from Emmanuel Mve Elemva, who did not stand for re-election.
The Post has learnt that the party is expected to impose sanctions to curb this growing rebellious sentiment, which also manifested in other regional council executive elections. The ad-hoc Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Musonge, includes other senior figures such as Ibrahim Talba Malla, Yaou Aissatou, and Libom Li Likeng Minette as Vice-Presidents, with Dr. Madelene, Mbah Achah Rose, and Ndanga Badel as members.
The committee’s rapporteurs are Ndembiyembe Paul Célestin, Dieudonné Oyono Dieudonné, Ndong Soumhet Benoit, and Elvis Ngolle Ngolle. This is the team tasked with enforcing party discipline during this contentious period.
Despite these internal conflicts, the Regional Council elections largely maintained the status quo. Given the overwhelming re-election of the established guard, observers are questioning President Paul Biya’s recent pledge to promote youth and women in public affairs. Political analysts suggest the standoff in the South Region may be a precursor to similar tensions in the upcoming parliamentary and local council elections.
