Elections DG, regional delegates evaluate October 12 poll….

The meeting also featured discussions on preparations for the November 30 regional elections. Dr Essousse lauded the collective efforts of his collaborators in ensuring the smooth conduct of the poll. 

He also expressed delight that: “The highest authority of the State, before all constituted bodies and the diplomatic corps, congratulated ELECAM warmly for a job well done”.

According to Dr Essousse, the successful organisation of the election nationwide and in four continents shows the technical capacity and credibility of ELECAM globally.

“We have become a credible institution in Africa and around the world,” Dr Essousse stated, adding that the United Nations, UN, will continue to work with ELECAM to strengthen the country’s electoral processes.

He also praised ELECAM’s recent technological milestones, notably the overhaul of the voter registration and card production systems. 

“We fought hard to achieve a clean and credible electoral register. We changed the registration kits, designed and tested by our engineers in partnership with our Chinese collaborators. Today, we have a credible and modernized kit that we are proud of,” he said

He equally recalled the revival of voter’s card production after four years of inactivity due to an obsolete printing system. 

“With government support, our engineers travelled to the United States, mastered the new printer, and successfully produced voter cards from 2020 to 2025,” Dr Essousse said. He added that technical challenge was “overcame with determination and professionalism”.

Such progress, he said, positions ELECAM as a great institution, noting that: “An election is like a football match. Winning one game doesn’t guarantee victory in the next. We must continue working with humility and vigilance”.

He urged ELECAM staff to redouble efforts to ensure the successful regional election. Dr Essousse also expressed appreciation to the government and other stakeholders for supporting it during the presidential election.

Preparing for the November 30 polls

According to Dr Essousse, the upcoming election of Regional Councillors will involve an electoral college composed of municipal councillors and traditional rulers. 

The situation, he said, calls for strict adherence to electoral fundamentals, including updated voter lists, timely deployment of materials, and efficient coordination among regional teams.

Enter Regional Delegates 

The Centre Regional Delegate of ELECAM, Essi Michèle Arlette, said beyond evaluating work done, they are “…harmonising procedures, assessing the voter registry, and verifying polling station allocations. For the Centre Region, we expect 33 polling stations, and the voter register validation is still ongoing”.

Mbowoh Elvis, Regional Delegate of ELECAM for the North West Region, said there are reports of significant progress both in evaluation and preparedness. 

He commended the collaborative spirit among political stakeholders, security forces and administrative authorities during the presidential poll. He disclosed that “all polling stations in the North West were opened in all 134 public structures agreed upon by all parties”, during the presidential election.

The strategy for the November 30 regional elections, Mbowoh said, would differ due to the limited electorate. Commenting on the level of preparation, Mbowoh said ELECAM had launched the call for candidates representing traditional rulers and municipal councillors, with training sessions for polling agents planned in the coming weeks. He added that material logistics and transport arrangements were already underway.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3624 of Friday November 14, 2025