Nation in suspense as Biya appoints 30 senators this week!.

Three will be appointed from each of the country’s ten regions to make the 30. They will add to the 70 elected senators to complete the list of 100 to form the third legislature at the Upper House of Parliament.

In keeping with Section 215 (3) of the Electoral Code, President Biya has to make his choice of 30 senators to join the 70 others elected through indirect universal suffrage known “within ten days following proclamation of the results by the Constitutional Council”.

This in essence means the President of the Republic has to make the appointments on or before April 2, 2023.

Pundits say though the state machinery is grinding well at almost all levels, public conscience has remained restless on who the Head of State will appoint among the 30 senators.

Many are those longing to see new faces injected in the lawmaking institution to give a fresh boost to the activities of the Senate.

As the clock ticks and deadline draws near, nervousness is progressively absorbing many senatorial aspirants, especially within the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, party.

This is also the case with officials of the nine opposition political parties who contested the March 12 senatorial election. The opposition parties, it should be said, were crushingly defeated by the CPDM.

The political outfit of President Biya swept all 70 elective seats as the Constitutional Council proclaimed the election results last Thursday March 23.

Many have described the election outcome, with all 70 elective seats grabbed by the CPDM, as a subtle attempt to return to one party system.

This has heightened fears that the Upper House of parliament might not be able to play its role of checks and balances, especially without an opposition party with the number of senators to form a parliamentary group.

However, many are those who still believe the President of the Republic will use his largesse to give a multiparty colouration to the Upper House of Parliament.

He is also expected to play his role as symbol of national unity by appointing representatives of opposition political parties, those of the civil society, women, traditional rulers and those from other sectors among the 30 he is expected to appoint.

Last minute consultations, lobbying

Though President Biya’s four-decade and counting stay in power has been characterised by his unpredictable nature and silence, with no one able to forecast what he will do in the next minute, some last minute changes might come into the choices that would be made by the Head of State.

We gathered from sources within the political corridors that many of the appointed senators in the second legislature, especially those within the ruling CPDM party, are restless.

Many are said to be burning midnight candles, holding nocturnal meetings with power-brokers and close coterie of the Head of State to see them return to the Senate.

This is also the case with many others who see the third legislature as a right opportunity for them to get some compensation for their strides within the party.

There is said to be serious competition among those who have served the state in different capacities and think their appointment into the senate would be right opportunity for them to be compensated by the Head of State for their selfless services to the nation.

Traditional authorities also hoping

Those hoping to be appointed by the Head of State among the 30 senators also include traditional rulers.

In the first and second legislatures, Paul Biya appointed many traditional rulers into the lawmaking structure. This also gives them the hope that the President will continue in the same light.

This is also said to be pitting powerful traditional rulers within different administrative settings into serious competition.

Keen watchers of the political arena are also of the opinion that the Head of State might end up dropping some of the traditional rulers, who have had a taste of the senate, for others to come in.

Compensation of old friends

Though known for his unpredictable nature, many observers say one thing that President Biya is known for is the fact that he doesn’t forget his old friends and political allies.

This is why many are also seeing the appointment of the 30 senators in the days ahead not to yield many surprises as it may end up rotating among former ministers, traditional rulers and few women, all of whom will at least be affiliated to the ruling CPDM.

Political watchers believe that despite the CPDM grabbing all the 70 elective seats, Biya’s appointed senators will still have a crushing majority at the senate, leaving the inter-party balance of power unchanged.

Critics now say the unbalanced composition at the senate will not provide much in the way of democratic checks to Biya’s authority and government actions.

Nine contesting opposition parties at Biya’s mercy

Officials of the nine opposition political parties that took part in the March 12 senatorial election are now said to be in a near helpless political situation. Political analysts appear unanimous that they have been left at the mercy of President Biya, through whose largesse they can manage to secure seats at the senate.

Watchers of the political scene are now saying, and rightly so, that except Biya shows mercy to the opposition parties and handpicks at least one of its supporters and appoints senator, there will be no opposition parties at the senate.

Many are now saying that without such presidential largesse, the senate would be left to be dominated by just one political party, which would end up tarnishing the strides of the country’s young democracy.

Among the parties now at the mercy of Biya is the once revered and influential Social Democratic Front, SDF, party that has been witnessing political misfortunes since the 2018 presidential election, where it recorded its worse performance ever.

The party of Ni John Fru Ndi contested only in the North West Region where it failed to win due to their limited number of municipal and regional councillors.

The party managed to secure just 40 votes in the Region. After controlling the Adamawa and West Regions in the first legislature that spanned 2013-2018, the SDF dropped to winning just the North West Region in the Second legislature that spanned 2018-2023.

Without the mercy of President Biya, ‘mighty’ SDF will have to bid goodbye to the senate.

Political watchers have, however, mooted that with the praises that have been sung by the SDF List Leader, outgoing Senator Vanigansen Mochiggle, of how free, fair and transparent the elections were, Paul Biya might have to appoint him or another party official as compensation for the hidden entente with the SDF.

The National Alliance for Democracy and Progress, ANDP, of Minister Hamadou Moustapha, which contested in the Far North Region, is also looking forward to President Biya’s largesse to be represented at the senate.

Another party which entry into the senate is now left at the mercy of Paul Biya is the Cameroon National Salvation Front, FSNC, of Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, which contested in the North Region but lost.

The Cameroon Democratic Union, CDU, of the late Adamou Ndam Njoya, now controlled by his wife, Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya, which was in the race in the West Region, is also at the mercy of Biya to be at the senate.

This is the same fate awaiting the National Union for Democracy and Progress, UNDP, of Minister Bello Bouba Maigari.

The party narrowly lost to the CPDM in Adamawa and was also defeated in the East, Far North and North Regions. The party will now wait for Biya to have one or more representatives at the Upper House.

The Cameroon Democratic Front, FDC, which challenged the CPDM in the Centre Region, is also praying and fasting to see Biya appoint one of theirs into the senate, same as the Union of Socialist Movement, UMS, which competed in the West Region, also looking up to the Head of State.

The party of late Minister Diakole Diassala, Movement for the Defense of the Republic, MDR, is also on the list of parties hoping to find favours in the eyes of Biya. The party, which is battling some internal wrangling, ran for the election in the Far North Region.

The Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation, PCRN, of Hon Cabral Libii, which contested but lost to the CPDM in the Littoral Region, is also on the list of those at the mercy of the Head of State.

Politicians express mixed feelings

We gathered that fears are now rife among politicians that the election outcome is a subtle attempt to return to one party system in the country.

“We will continue to fight. It is a problem for our democracy. You must realise that we are going back to the single party system in our country,” Hon Koupit Adamou of the CDU party expressed fears.

The lawmaker blamed the disturbing situation of the country’s electoral system that has repeatedly been criticised by other opposition politicians.

“We think that we must save our democracy by sitting together and looking for a consensual Electoral Code. If we cannot do so, I think in the next few years, we will celebrate the death of our democracy in this country,” the lawmaker had expressed fears. 

He further warned that the current disposition is not good for the country’s development.

“We must think above the country, not only about the ruling party…,” he added.

Such fears are, however, allayed by the Coordinator of the CPDM Academy, Prof Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, who attributes the victory to the hard work and communication of the ruling party.

“The opposition has nothing to fear. There is no question, no issue about a one party system…the CPDM got the 70 seats thanks to its hard work and its communication skills,” Prof Ngolle Ngolle said on state media, adding that he is of the conviction President Biya will use his largesse to give a multiparty coloration to the senate.  

On his part, the President of the FSNC, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary has blamed the CDPM overwhelming victory on the lack of strategy and unity among opposition parties.

“CPDM is the strongest party whether we like it or not. You cannot ask your opponent, competitor to help you overcome him or her. It is unbelievable. It is unthinkable. We took part, we delivered the best we could and the result is a reflection of the might and capacity of each political party,” he said.

The opposition politician said they would have to continue to fight in order to change the trend. “I think it is possible with time,” Tchiroma added.