Belo Council: Councillors petition CPDM SG as election of mayor ends in deadlock!.

A copy of the letter addressed to the party scribe, which The Guardian Post obtained, is dated August 5, 2024.

In the letter, titled: “Protest against an attempt to impose a Mayor for Belo by representatives from the Central Committee”, the councillors, said “the action undermines the democratic process in Cameroon and disregards the will of the elected representative of our community which we are”.

The portioners are “expressing their strong rejection of the decision, particularly Hon Wallang Richard from Menchum who was sent to impose the directive upon us. Such interference is unacceptable ad contradicts the principles of democracy that our party stands for”.

While stating that Belo remains without a mayor due to the “unjust action”, the councillors are calling on the CPDM Central Committee to respect their autonomy and allow them elect the council executive through proper democratic channels.

Boyo SDO also dragged

In a separate letter addressed to the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO of Boyo, Saidou Mousa, the irate councillors said they were writing to formally express their profound disappointment regarding the holding of the extraordinary council session of August 5, 2024, which failed to result in the election of a Mayor for Belo.

“It is disheartening to witness an attempt by members of the Central Committee of the CPDM party under your watchful eyes to impose decisions upon us, undermining our autonomy and the democratic process,” part of the letter reads.

According to them, the refusal by the SDO to conduct the elections, despite their readiness and commitment to fulfill their responsibilities, has left Belo Council without leadership at very a crucial time.

“We reject any attempts to manipulate the electoral process and assert that the voice of the councilors must be respected. We urge you to take immediate action to rectify this situation and facilitate a fair and transparent election process for the Mayor of Belo Council. The councilors are eager to fulfill their duties and serve our community effectively,” the councillors stated.

Why election of new Belo mayor ran into storm

Boyo SDO had on Monday August 5, 2024, convened an extraordinary council session for the election of a new mayor for the Belo municipality.

The post of mayor has remained vacant since May 20, 2024. This followed the shooting to death of Dr Ngong Innocent Ankiambom who had been piloting the affairs of Belo council since February 2020.

Councillors who had answered present for the session to elect a mayor were taken aback, when a confidential letter supposedly from the CPDM scribe was read out, stating that the party had settled on a candidate to fill the position.

North West Regional Delegate of Housing and Urban Development, Ndiwum Gilbert was presented as lone candidate to stand for election to replace late Mayor Ngong Innocent.

The councillors protested the move, stating that they have the right to freely choose from among them a mayor, they believe has the potentials and is development-oriented.

Hon Wallang Richard Member of Parliament for Menchum South, Grace Chiangeh, vice president of the CPDM Divisional Permanent Delegation for Boyo and Boyo II Section President, Waindim Timothy were members of the Central Committee sent to oversee the election of a new mayor for Belo.

They tried unsuccessfully for several hours to convince the councilors to accept Councilor Ndiwum Gilbert as the choice of the party.

Waindim Timothy was in the CPDM Central Committee team is quoted to have said it was an internal election and the party texts provides for investiture.

“The CPDM has regulations, party texts that has to be respected. There can be no election without dissenting voices. The party directives handed to commission was respected to the latter. It is the party that invest candidates,” Boyo Eye newspaper quoted him as saying.

The SDO closed the session without voting actually taking place. As at yesterday, Alice Mbu who had been managing the affairs of the Belo Council on interim basis since the death of Mayor Ngong Innocent was still in office. Affaire a suivre

This story was first Published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3192 of Wednesday August 07, 2024