Independent Candidates: The Much Needed Tonic for Cameroon’s Lethargic Democratic Process?

By Dibussi Tande    

Since the 1990s when multiparty politics once again became the norm across Africa, the possible participation of independent candidates in elections has been the subject of heated debates on the continent. Increasingly, the idea is gaining ground as many African countries now allow independent candidates to take part in local and national elections. In fact, all over Africa many independent candidates now control local councils, occupy seats in parliament, and in the case of Benin’s Yayi Boni, occupy the Presidency of the Republic.

On this issue, like in many others (declaration of assets by public officials, dual citizenship, etc.), Cameroon is once again bucking this continental trend as it stubbornly hangs on to electoral laws that expressly bar independents from taking part in municipal and legislative elections, and make it virtually impossible for them to participate in presidential elections.

It is with hopes of rectifying this situation and freeing the political system from the grip of political parties -- which have so far failed to fulfill the democratic and other aspirations of Cameroonians -- that a group of Cameroonians has written a memorandum making a case for the participation of independent candidates in Cameroonian elections.

In the memorandum, the group calling itself the “Committee for the Participation of Independent Candidates in the Electoral Process in Cameroon” recalls that “Between 1945 – 1966, individuals stood as Independents for elections in Cameroon in both what was then West and East Cameroon.”

Writing specifically about the Southern Cameroons electoral system that existed between 1946 and 1961, the memorandum recalls that it was

“…regulated by legal instruments, which made running as Independent highly permissive. For example Article 46 of the Electoral Regulations of 17 May 1951 favoured the participation of Independent candidates, with simple conditions like providing:

(a) The name, address and description of the candidate;
(b) The name, address and description of the nominators of the candidates;
(c) Statements by the candidates that they were willing and qualified to stand for election; and
(d) Deposit of 10 pounds to be returned if nomination is withdrawn, as election not contested, or if contested, they obtain more than one-tenth of the total votes.”

The memorandum points out that this situation changed only after unification, and particularly with the creation of the single party in 1966. Independent candidates disappeared from the political scene and did not appear again until the multiparty electoral laws of the 1990s which "recognized the eligibility of Independent Candidates to run for Presidential elections but not for Legislative and Municipal elections”.

Even though Law No. 92/010 of 7 September 1992 governing presidential elections allows independents take part in Presidential elections, the authors of the memorandum believe that the conditions are very restrictive, daunting, unrealistic, and possibly unattainable. According to the law, in order to participate in presidential elections, an independent candidate

“must produce 300 legalised signatures from the electoral college (voters) who should be members of the National Assembly, Consular Chambers, Councilors, and First class Chiefs (special high profile voters) from all the Provinces, making 30 per Province.”

In the opinion of the members of the committee, the 300-signature requirement is:

(a) Discriminatory, in the light of the constitution which determines the fundamental rules with regards to elections;
(b) Unrealistic, considering the prevailing situation in Cameroon where some Provinces cannot produce 30 of such “special high profile voters”;
(c) Unconvincing, because none of these “special high profile voters” is Independent enough to endorse an Independent candidate. Almost all of them are members of parties who would rather maintain party discipline or toe party line.

The memorandum then goes on to list a number of African countries that have had successful experiences with Independent candidates:

(a) In Cote d’lvoire, the municipal election of 25 March 2001 saw 38 of the 195 local councils being grabbed by Independents.  Independents were now recognised as the third political force in the country
(b) In the September – October 1993 legislative election in the Kingdom of Swaziland, all the 30 members of the Senate were elected as Independents.
(c) Independents have won Presidential elections in some African countries for example Marc Ravalomanana who swept 51.5% of the votes during the 16 December 2001 in Madagascar; Ahmadou Toumani Toure who won 64.4% of the votes during the April – May 2002 Presidential elections in Mali; and quite recently the spectacular victory of Yayi Boni who won 74.51% of the votes during the March 2006 Presidential elections in Benin.

Using the 1996 Constitution, the OAU Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a back drop, the Committee then lists 10 reasons why independent candidates must be allowed to participate in the democratic process in Cameroon.

The Committee concludes the memorandum by urging the Government of Cameroon to nullify the 300-signature requirement and to allow Independent candidates to participate in legislative and municipal elections as from 2007.

Members of the Committee include George Ngwane, Churchill Ewumbue-Monono, Barrister Charles Taku, Ntemfac Ofege, Bate Besong, Barrister Agbor Nkongho, and Dibussi Tande.

Click here to print or download complete memorandum in PDF format

Tags: Africa Elections Independent Candidates Cameroon

Comments

[Dr.M.T.Lawrence]

Regards from japan.who is Dr.Azuh Fonkam in the presidency of Cameroon and in Cameroon politics?Will be glad to get facts as soon as possible.Regards

[Kwensi]

I am just wondering does the 300 signature rule apply for registration of political parties as well? I wonder why a country that boasts almost 300 political parties makes it so difficult for independent candidates to run for elective office.

I must admit there is something inherently discriminatory about this law. We all know that it would take a really special first class chief, MP, consular office (all of whom are appointed by the ruling party)to endorse an independent candidate. Just as the article points out it would require such a person to be truly independent but I am still to see a government appointee capable of independent thought in Cameroon.

[paolo laurent]

thats is the french sphere of seeing the world. thats cameroun

you guys will never understand, else you might just as well became corrupted and bended as all the 11m french camerouneses.
back in west cameroon parliament , the prime minister knows exactly when to leave
and who is the next. every one knows the laws and the rules of our govt, but these
jungle-like govt, make its rule good enough only for itself, and changes the rules without a single vote, afterall it doesnt owe the people any mandate. they never elected the govt. sad things in dark continent.