Presidential election: ELECAM appeals for calm, urges citizens to trust electoral process.

He restated ELECAM’s commitment to transparency, independence and legality.

He said ELECAM is empowered by law to ensure to regular, impartial, free, fair, transparent and credible polls. He insisted that the independence of ELECAM Board members is enshrined in Section 5 of the Electoral Code.

Dr Enow said the Board members don’t receive instructions from anyone. “…This independence is the foundation of the trust Cameroonians can place in our democratic process,” he declared.

He said the 18 Board members are from several backgrounds, reflecting the institution’s inclusive character. 

The Chairperson also clarified that while government services provide logistical and security support during elections, their role is limited strictly to ensuring the safety of voters, candidates, observers and materials.

Collaboration ensures credibility

Dr Enow Abrams highlighted that ELECAM’s extensive consultations with various national stakeholders remains to ensure the entire process is credible.

The Code of Good Conduct, which was adopted in the course of the consultations, Dr Enow Abrams stated, is a guide for every actor in the process.

“This code is our compass. It defines the republican and civic behaviours expected of every actor in the process and helps prevent misunderstandings or tensions,” the Chairperson noted. 

Insist on transparency of polling to results

Commenting on the voting and counting process, Dr Enow Abrams said each polling station was managed by a Local Polling Commission composed of an ELECAM representative, a chairperson appointed by the institution, a representative of the administration, and a representative of each candidate.

Vote counting, he said took place immediately after polling ended, in the presence of voters and scrutineers, and results were proclaimed on the spot in line with the Electoral Code. 

A detailed counting sheet, Dr Enow Abrams said, is produced in multiple copies.  In the October 12 poll, he said there were 31,653 polling stations nationwide.

All local polling commissions, he said, completed their reports and transmitted them to the Divisional Supervisory Commissions within the 48-hour deadline required by law.

The Divisional Supervisory Commissions, chaired by presidents of the High Courts which worked within 72 hours and forwarded reports to the National Commission for the Final Counting of Votes.

He explained that as of October 16, all reports from the 58 divisions across the country and 108 diaspora polling commissions had been received by the National Commission.

Dr Enow Abram explained that the National Commission for the Final Counting of Votes is performing its role “…in full compliance with the law, with inclusion, traceability and transparency assured at every stage”.

ELECAM, he said, does not yet have access to consolidated figures. The figures, he said, remain under review by the competent commissions until official results are declared.

Call for vigilance, peace

Dr Enow Abrams expressed gratitude to all citizens, institutions, and observers who contributed to ensuring a calm and orderly election. To the population, he called for vigilance. 

“Let us avoid spreading or believing unverified information that could undermine peace and national unity,’ Dr Enow Abrams stated.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3600 of Monday October 20, 2025