2026 legislatives: Many mountains for MPs to scale!.

Unfortunately, Cameroonian Parliamentarians have consistently been criticised as "hand clappers" and "rubber stampers," when bills are presented to them.

The latest example where they have been indicted for aiding "undemocratic drift towards monarchy" and "disloyal towards institutions," is last week's adoption of the bill creating the post of Vice President of the Republic; to be appointed by the Head of State, who also has the prerogative to sack the nation’s Number Two.

While the bubbling galore of condemnation was still to settled, one of the Parliamentarians, Hon Claude Juimo Siewe Monthé, of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM, representing the Upper Nkam Constituency, in the West Region, passed on in Yaounde the same day the controversial bill was being passed.

His death, as has been reported by The Guardian Post, brought to 21, the number of Parliamentarians elected in 2020; who have been called to glory before the expiration of their twice extended term, on December 20 this year.

The Parliamentarians need not be reminded that they have alternate members, who should serve as their designated replacement for a titular member of the National Assembly or Senate.

The logic is that alternates ensure the continuity of representation in Parliament without requiring immediate or full-scale by-elections, when a member steps down or is appointed to an executive position. But in case of death, there should be a by-election.

Hon Monthe, for instance, died less than a year to the end of the extended term. Many before him who passed on within the legal time for a replacement have not been substituted.

Since the election of the current batch of lawmakers, there are reports that they have "experienced an unusually high number of deaths".

As many as 21 seats are now empty. Yet, despite laws meant to govern replacements, no by-elections have been held to fill the vacancies.    

The vacancies affect representation, democratic participation and local development, especially as Parliamentarians usually describe themselves as "hunting dogs" lobbying for projects in their constituencies.

The lack of by-elections for deceased MPs has attracted tons of criticisms, as it leaves constituents without full representation and limits their ability to raise issues at the national level

Article 155 of the Electoral Code, stipulates that when a seat becomes vacant due to death, resignation, or other reasons, a by-election must be held within 12 months to fill that seat.

Legally, alternates cannot automatically take over if an MP dies, so as not to prompt some jealous and satanic minded alternates to poison the incumbents, as government apologists claim. That is why in case of death, a by-election is required, not by automatic replacement.

A by-election is supposed to be conducted by Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, to allow constituents to elect a new representative.

But why has the CPDM government not held by-elections, with so many vacant seats at the National Assembly, despite clear legal provisions? Is it because of "financial constraints" as has been used in other elections?

Even if it is money that should be the flimsy excuse, why have they not amended the law to ensure that there should be automatic replacement, especially given that the lame argument that it would encourage alternatives to poison their titulars is unscientific and superstitious thinking.

As has been the practice which violates the law, vacant parliamentary seats have not been replaced when members die.

The consequences, as some research has indicated, is that the electorate in such constituency lose a key link to national decision-making; no dedicated advocate at the National Assembly for local concerns and delay in development projects tied to parliamentary influence or funding. In addition, constituents may feel politically disenfranchised while micro-projects or local funds linked to an MP may be left in limbo. 

The ruling party may even fall short of a majority to pass crucial bills. For instance, tinkering with the Constitution as it just happened last weekend, requires a two-thirds vote.

Without a Congress that included Senators, the ruling party required 120 members to get to that threshold but deaths have reduced the number to 118.

As lawmakers and a realm that controls government actions, Cameroonian Parliamentarians should be able to hold the executive to govern by the rule of the law, otherwise with the legislative elections coming later this year, they should be prepared to explain to their constituents what went wrong to the point they are being mocked as "hand clappers," instead of “Honourables.”  

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3753 of Tuesday April 07, 2026