Disgraceful performance at Oct 12 poll: SDF NEC on Osih’s neck to resign!.

We gathered from reliable sources within the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the SDF that majority of the members are mounting pressure on Osih, who is National Chairman of the party; Njong Donatus Fonyuy, Secretary General; Prof Louis Marie Kakdeu, Second Vice National President, and other top brass of the party, to resign from their posts of responsibility.

Joshua Osih Nambangi, it should be noted, came a distant sixth, with just 1.21 percent of the votes, according to official results declared by the Constitutional Council. 

This, some NEC members regret, is “very disheartening for a party that has for several years prided itself as the main opposition party in the country”.

Our sources say within a WhatsApp forum of NEC members, Osih, Njong, Kakdeu and other party top officials have been under heat, with many calling on them to throw in the towel “before they use their unpopularity to kill the party”.

One of the NEC members, in a post in the said WhatsApp forum, reportedly said bitterly: “So Osih, who registered 1% for the SDF is still the National Chairman, and he will lead the SDF to the municipal and legislative elections? And you will come back to expect different results? As you people want Biya out, first take out those who could not appeal to the Cameroonian people”. 

We gathered that there have been bitter exchanges within the NEC WhatsApp forum, with anti-Osih, Njong, Kakdeu NEC members firing tirades at the National Chairman and his cronies, while pro-Osih adherents are firing back as well. 

An SDF NEC member, who spoke to this reporter on strict conditions of anonymity, said the Osih, Njong, Kakdeu trio “are the ones taking all the decisions and sometimes some of us only see them on social media like anyone else”. 

In another post in the forum, another NEC member wrote: “A party National Chairman who can't win us elections should step aside. It is as simple as that. That's to show how unpopular the leadership of that party is. The leader can't even motivate his own militants to turn out and vote… that is another reason the leader needs to step aside”.

“Other party members should be given a chance”

Yet, another NEC member firing at Osih, wrote “…you should rather give me reasons why Chairman Osih deserves to continue as the leader of the SDF…my position is based purely on his performance in two presidential elections. I don't need to remind you of what the results of the past two presidential elections are. It is time for a new face at the head of the SDF...two disastrous presidential elections warrant his resignation. We have many vibrant members within the party who deserve a chance”. 

The same NEC member fired further: “The position of SDF National Chairman is a public office. Asking for someone’s resignation is my political right. I have not insulted anyone. I have stated my reasons and if I should repeat them; two disastrous presidential elections are unacceptable…”.

However, he added that: “I didn't ask anyone to resign from the SDF. I am asking his resignation as National Chairman. I have seen his performances in parliament, and he's a master there. Honestly, I think that's where Chairman Osih belongs. He will probably make a good Speaker of the National Assembly in my view. For some reason, he's just not connecting with the electorate as SDF National Chairman and presidential candidate. Therefore, it is time he resigns and supports someone else to lead the party. We have plenty of fine candidates in the SDF to lead us forward”.

“Critical stage of SDF’s life”

Meanwhile, another critical SDF NEC member, in a post also in the forum, said it was “a very critical stage in the life of the SDF, a true make-or-break moment for our beloved party”.

“I appeal to every member of the National Executive Committee, NEC, to pause and search their conscience. Let us remember that our highest loyalty is to the SDF, not to any single individual or faction,” the NEC member stated.

“The men and women at the grassroots, those who have kept the flame of this party alive, through sacrifices and courage, are watching us closely. They expect integrity, not silence; truth, not flattery. As NEC members, we owe it to them and to history to speak the truth without fear, even when it is uncomfortable. Let us not defend individuals simply to remain in their good books. The future of the SDF depends on our honesty, our courage, and our ability to put the party above personal interests,” he added.

Refusal to join alliance another bone of contention

Meanwhile, we learned that SDF’s refusal to join an opposition alliance for a consensus candidate at the October 12 poll, has also been a bone of contention within NEC.

Recall that the SDF declined joining any opposition alliance ahead of the poll.

Some SDF NEC members have disclosed that many of them were for the party joining an alliance, but the Osih, Njong, Kakdeu trio stood against it. Such NEC members are pointing at the party’s dismal performance as a bane of such a decision by Osih and Co. 

“Changing leadership may be counterproductive”

Nonetheless, there are said to be some SDF NEC members who are advancing that local elections are coming up soon and if the party dislodges its current top leadership, it may be counterproductive. 

These group of persons are said to be postulating that the party should maintain its current leadership, face the legislative and council election slated for next year and then wait till the next Convention of the party to vote in a new leadership.

It should be noted that the SDF constitution is silent on possibility of NEC passing a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman, Secretary General, Vice National President or other top officials of the party. 

The prominent provision of the party’s constitution to exclude somebody is Article 8.2. 

However, while the article has been used severally to exclude many prominent members of the party, it has never been used to exclude a National Chairman.

Thus, some political analysts say the NEC members pushing for the resignation of Osih and Co., “may just be crying in the rain”.

Notwithstanding, an SDF NEC member, who did not want to be named for fear of being “victimised”, told The Guardian Post: “It is not a secret anymore that Osih has lost the confidence of a majority of NEC members and even lower party structure leaders; Regional and District Chairpersons are holding the same views”.

The Guardian Post, in its professional efforts to get the side of the SDF top brass, called the National Chairman, Joshua Osih on phone (699 9 - -841) several times, but he did not take the calls.

Contacted, the National Communication Secretary of the SDF, Kejang Henry Atembe, declined commenting, referring this reporter to the Secretary General of the party, Njong Donatus, whom he said, “manages the party”.

However, after persuasion, Kejang questioned: “There are party procedures, have these procedures been followed?”

By press time, we could not also get to the SDF Secretary General for comments. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3615 of Tuesday November 04, 2025