October 12 poll:  ELECAM can do better!.

MINAT, through administrative authorities, "accompanies" ELECAM in transporting electoral materials such as ballot boxes, ballot papers and other accessories to polling centres.

It, through its Divisional Officers, has the controversial power to proscribe campaign rallies, often under the warp pretext of "preventing a breach of public order and peace".

The Constitutional Council is the last bus stop for litigations, while ELECAM, the kingpin in the process, has the onus responsibility to ensure free, transparent, and credible elections; with credible results that should prevent violence, which has become synonymous with rigging in some African countries.

The troika has, however, faced vitriolic criticisms with some cynics referring to it as an unholy trinity. The latest indictment at the heat of next Sunday's presidential election has come from the presidential campaign team of UDC candidate, Patricia Tomaïno Ndam Njoya. 

In a statement last Friday, the party accused ELECAM of unequal distribution of voters’ cards.

"According to verifiable sources, including our representatives in Commissions and the public, batches of voters’ cards were delivered by ELECAM officials to certain private homes of so-called individual "elite" and traditional Chiefdoms...in violation of Articles 53 and 84 of the Electoral Code," it stated. 

The statement, widely-shared to the media, added that: "In accordance with the provisions of Article 88 of the Electoral Code, billboard spaces must be equitably distributed among the various candidates. However, the reality on the ground is quite different: Cameroon's main cities are literally flooded with photos, posters, and communication materials of candidate Paul Biya alone, making the presence of other candidates virtually invisible".

The party argued further that the domination of billboard spaces "...not only violates the principle of equal opportunity guaranteed by law, but also creates a clear distortion in public opinion. It constitutes monopolistic propaganda, prohibited by electoral law”.

It also reports that senior civil servants and government officials use their equipment, material resources, and public premises for partisan purposes, in violation of the Constitution and laws that proclaim the non-partisan nature of the State and prohibit the use of public resources for electoral purposes.

“Another serious shortcoming lies in the paltry ceiling imposed on the campaign budget. While the ruling party benefits from colossal contributions from public subsidies and massive contributions from government employees and public enterprises, the opposition is constrained by a narrow budgetary framework. The candidate in power is thus deploying exorbitant financial resources, distorting competition and violating the principles of financial transparency stipulated by the Electoral Code as well as by international standards (notably the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance),” the UDC pointed out.

While The Guardian Post holds no brief for ELECAM, it must be noted that it is helpless in controlling the ruling party's use of State resources; for instance, like government vehicles, staff, fuel and even imposing levies on top civil servants for campaign purposes, which are malpractices that have been condemned for years.

It is thus the government to blame for not providing a distinctive separation between the ruling party's resources and those of the State. Many of the opposition parties, like UDC, for instance, do not have the national presence to post their publicity on bill boards nationally and shouldn't complain about those with the means.

The prerogative of ELECAM, however is to keep electoral gadgets, counting and declaration of results at polling stations and compilation of the ballots.

Legally, they are supposed to keep election materials, especially as they have branches in all Subdivisions, and are transported to polling stations only on Election Day, and taken back to their offices after voting.

Experience and complaints have been that in some remote areas, they are kept in houses of traditional rulers, most of them known to be vocal supporters of the CPDM.

There have also been rampant complaints that ballots of all contestants are not equally provided or based on the number of registered voters engineered to give advantages to the ruling party.

For instance, if there is shortage of ballot papers for any candidate, voting should legally stop until replenished. In such a situation, if it is a stronghold of the opposition, it is the ruling party that benefits so ELECAM should ensure adequate provision of cards, based on the number of registered voters, to prevent complaints and accusations that sully the integrity of the process.

The UDC complaint is coming just when the Electoral Board of ELECAM, used its Third Ordinary Session in Yaounde, last Tuesday, to advise staff to ensure smooth preparations for upcoming electoral deadlines, including the presidential poll next Sunday and the combined municipal and legislative elections slated for later next year.

Presiding at the session, the Chairperson of the Board of ELECAM, Dr Enow Abrams, equally reminded Board members that the weight of ELECAM’s responsibilities require both vigilance and commitment.

He told them that with the presidential election underway and more elections to follow in 2026, only transparency, professionalism, and national solidarity would safeguard the credibility of the electoral process.

“Our mission clearly transcends the technical sphere. It is about guaranteeing democracy and strengthening peace in Cameroon. the work we do now will shape not only the 2026 elections, but also the future of our nation,” he affirmed.

The Guardian Post is delighted that ELECAM understands the stakes at play and the dire consequences of a rigged elections, with perilous ramifications that may not spare anyone.

There are, however, in-built insidious flaws in the electoral processes that reflect inequitable advantages for the ruling party. 

ELECAM cannot level that bumpy playing ground, but it can make good riddance to bad rubbish to ensure the presidential election and those to follow are seen to be fair and credible, by exhibiting impartiality, not only by words like it those often, but by actions.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3586 of Monday October 06, 2025