Parliament: Till death do them part!.

By some strange happenstance, both ageing personalities were voted heads of the parliamentary bodies. Observers say it came as no surprise.

Cavaye Yeguie, 83, postulated for the strategic position of National Assembly House Speaker unopposed.

It was same scenario at the Upper House of Parliament, where 88-year-old Niat Njifenji, who has held the position since 2013, retained the top job on a platter of gold.

He secured 79 out of the 82 votes to emerge leader of the lawmaking body.

At the National Assembly, veteran politician, Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie, who has been House Speaker since 1992, was similarly reelected for the umpteenth time as head of the institution. The lawmaker from the Far North Region secured 146 out of the 159 available votes.

There were 13 null votes, according to the results published at the end of the brief exercise in the House Chamber.

Hon Cavaye Yeguie, who has been in parliament since 1973, was reelected alongside five Vice Speakers, four Questors and twelve Secretaries during the plenary session held to put in place a Permanent Bureau of the House for 2023.

All members of the outgoing permanent bureau were maintained during the vote.

Given the ruling party’s large majority in parliament, yesterday’s vote, political commentators said, was a mere formality. Elections in both houses of parliament are often stage-managed with heavy influence from the executive arm of government.

Once reelected yesterday, Hon Cavaye Yeguie, while on the rostrum, first thanked the Head of State for the renewed confidence, before proceeding to take over to chair the proceedings, which witnessed the rest of the electoral process to have the bureau completed.

“Let me first express my deep and profound gratitude to His Excellency Paul Biya, the National Chairman of my party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM. My deep and profound gratitude for this renewed confidence,” the veteran politician said in a pre-prepared scripted address delivered shortly after his re-election.

He continued that: “Indeed, by granting me the investiture of the party of which he is in charge, he is allowing me to accede, once again, to the prestigious post of Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon. Thank You Mr. President!”

“As I like to say, I have never betrayed. I will never betray. For this new mandate at the perch, I will spare no effort to always be worthy of the trust placed in my modest person,” he stated.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the various bodies and senior officials of the party for their support. As for you, dear colleagues, I am grateful for your votes in my favour. Those who abstained or voted against me expressed themselves in their own way. That is how democracy works! However, I would like to reassure you, as in the past, I will be the President of the National Assembly for all, listening to all, without distinction,” Cavaye Yegueie concluded.

Since joining parliament in the early 70s, Hon Cavaye Yeguie, it should be said, has steadily climbed all the rungs of the ladder at the National Assembly.

He began as an ordinary Member of Parliament, before moving to become a Questor in the House. He has also been Vice-President before emerging Speaker in 1992 following a parliamentary election boycotted by the Social Democratic Front, SDF.

Hon. Hilarion Etong, CPDM Member of Parliament, was voted First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He won by 142 of the 157 votes cast. Fifteen ballots were submitted empty. He was the lone candidate for the position.

Senate to elect bureau again

Though a permanent bureau has been put in place at the Senate, a similar exercise is expected to be carried out in under two weeks.

This will be after the newly-elected Senators of the March 12 Senatorial election would have been handed their attributes.

President Paul Biya is expected to appoint 30 Senators to complete the House made up of 100 members.

Once that is done this week, the newly elected lawmakers and their appointed peers will meet in a session as of right by April 15. During the session, a fresh permanent bureau will be elected to replace yesterday’s elected bureau members.

">

By some strange happenstance, both ageing personalities were yesterday, voted heads of the parliamentary bodies. Observers say it came as no surprise.

Cavaye Yeguie, 83, postulated for the strategic position of National Assembly House Speaker unopposed.

It was same scenario at the Upper House of Parliament, where 88-year-old Niat Njifenji, who has held the position since 2013, retained the top job on a platter of gold.

He secured 79 out of the 82 votes to emerge leader of the lawmaking body.

At the National Assembly, veteran politician, Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie, who has been House Speaker since 1992, was similarly reelected for the umpteenth time as head of the institution. The lawmaker from the Far North Region secured 146 out of the 159 available votes.

There were 13 null votes, according to the results published at the end of the brief exercise in the House Chamber.

Hon Cavaye Yeguie, who has been in parliament since 1973, was reelected alongside five Vice Speakers, four Questors and twelve Secretaries during the plenary session held to put in place a Permanent Bureau of the House for 2023.

All members of the outgoing permanent bureau were maintained during the vote.

Given the ruling party’s large majority in parliament, yesterday’s vote, political commentators said, was a mere formality. Elections in both houses of parliament are often stage-managed with heavy influence from the executive arm of government.

Once reelected yesterday, Hon Cavaye Yeguie, while on the rostrum, first thanked the Head of State for the renewed confidence, before proceeding to take over to chair the proceedings, which witnessed the rest of the electoral process to have the bureau completed.

“Let me first express my deep and profound gratitude to His Excellency Paul Biya, the National Chairman of my party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM. My deep and profound gratitude for this renewed confidence,” the veteran politician said in a pre-prepared scripted address delivered shortly after his re-election.

He continued that: “Indeed, by granting me the investiture of the party of which he is in charge, he is allowing me to accede, once again, to the prestigious post of Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon. Thank You Mr. President!”

“As I like to say, I have never betrayed. I will never betray. For this new mandate at the perch, I will spare no effort to always be worthy of the trust placed in my modest person,” he stated.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the various bodies and senior officials of the party for their support. As for you, dear colleagues, I am grateful for your votes in my favour. Those who abstained or voted against me expressed themselves in their own way. That is how democracy works! However, I would like to reassure you, as in the past, I will be the President of the National Assembly for all, listening to all, without distinction,” Cavaye Yegueie concluded.

Since joining parliament in the early 70s, Hon Cavaye Yeguie, it should be said, has steadily climbed all the rungs of the ladder at the National Assembly.

He began as an ordinary Member of Parliament, before moving to become a Questor in the House. He has also been Vice-President before emerging Speaker in 1992 following a parliamentary election boycotted by the Social Democratic Front, SDF.

Hon. Hilarion Etong, CPDM Member of Parliament, was voted First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He won by 142 of the 157 votes cast. Fifteen ballots were submitted empty. He was the lone candidate for the position.

Senate to elect bureau again

Though a permanent bureau has been put in place at the Senate, a similar exercise is expected to be carried out in under two weeks.

This will be after the newly-elected Senators of the March 12 Senatorial election would have been handed their attributes.

President Paul Biya is expected to appoint 30 Senators to complete the House made up of 100 members.

Once that is done this week, the newly elected lawmakers and their appointed peers will meet in a session as of right by April 15. During the session, a fresh permanent bureau will be elected to replace yesterday’s elected bureau members.

">

By some strange happenstance, both ageing personalities were voted heads of the parliamentary bodies. Observers say it came as no surprise.

Cavaye Yeguie, 83, postulated for the strategic position of National Assembly House Speaker unopposed.

It was same scenario at the Upper House of Parliament, where 88-year-old Niat Njifenji, who has held the position since 2013, retained the top job on a platter of gold.

He secured 79 out of the 82 votes to emerge leader of the lawmaking body.

At the National Assembly, veteran politician, Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie, who has been House Speaker since 1992, was similarly reelected for the umpteenth time as head of the institution. The lawmaker from the Far North Region secured 146 out of the 159 available votes.

There were 13 null votes, according to the results published at the end of the brief exercise in the House Chamber.

Hon Cavaye Yeguie, who has been in parliament since 1973, was reelected alongside five Vice Speakers, four Questors and twelve Secretaries during the plenary session held to put in place a Permanent Bureau of the House for 2023.

All members of the outgoing permanent bureau were maintained during the vote.

Given the ruling party’s large majority in parliament, yesterday’s vote, political commentators said, was a mere formality. Elections in both houses of parliament are often stage-managed with heavy influence from the executive arm of government.

Once reelected yesterday, Hon Cavaye Yeguie, while on the rostrum, first thanked the Head of State for the renewed confidence, before proceeding to take over to chair the proceedings, which witnessed the rest of the electoral process to have the bureau completed.

“Let me first express my deep and profound gratitude to His Excellency Paul Biya, the National Chairman of my party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM. My deep and profound gratitude for this renewed confidence,” the veteran politician said in a pre-prepared scripted address delivered shortly after his re-election.

He continued that: “Indeed, by granting me the investiture of the party of which he is in charge, he is allowing me to accede, once again, to the prestigious post of Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon. Thank You Mr. President!”

“As I like to say, I have never betrayed. I will never betray. For this new mandate at the perch, I will spare no effort to always be worthy of the trust placed in my modest person,” he stated.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the various bodies and senior officials of the party for their support. As for you, dear colleagues, I am grateful for your votes in my favour. Those who abstained or voted against me expressed themselves in their own way. That is how democracy works! However, I would like to reassure you, as in the past, I will be the President of the National Assembly for all, listening to all, without distinction,” Cavaye Yegueie concluded.

Since joining parliament in the early 70s, Hon Cavaye Yeguie, it should be said, has steadily climbed all the rungs of the ladder at the National Assembly.

He began as an ordinary Member of Parliament, before moving to become a Questor in the House. He has also been Vice-President before emerging Speaker in 1992 following a parliamentary election boycotted by the Social Democratic Front, SDF.

Hon. Hilarion Etong, CPDM Member of Parliament, was voted First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He won by 142 of the 157 votes cast. Fifteen ballots were submitted empty. He was the lone candidate for the position.

Senate to elect bureau again

Though a permanent bureau has been put in place at the Senate, a similar exercise is expected to be carried out in under two weeks.

This will be after the newly-elected Senators of the March 12 Senatorial election would have been handed their attributes.

President Paul Biya is expected to appoint 30 Senators to complete the House made up of 100 members.

Once that is done this week, the newly elected lawmakers and their appointed peers will meet in a session as of right by April 15. During the session, a fresh permanent bureau will be elected to replace yesterday’s elected bureau members.

">

By some strange happenstance, both ageing personalities were yesterday, voted heads of the parliamentary bodies. Observers say it came as no surprise.

Cavaye Yeguie, 83, postulated for the strategic position of National Assembly House Speaker unopposed.

It was same scenario at the Upper House of Parliament, where 88-year-old Niat Njifenji, who has held the position since 2013, retained the top job on a platter of gold.

He secured 79 out of the 82 votes to emerge leader of the lawmaking body.

At the National Assembly, veteran politician, Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie, who has been House Speaker since 1992, was similarly reelected for the umpteenth time as head of the institution. The lawmaker from the Far North Region secured 146 out of the 159 available votes.

There were 13 null votes, according to the results published at the end of the brief exercise in the House Chamber.

Hon Cavaye Yeguie, who has been in parliament since 1973, was reelected alongside five Vice Speakers, four Questors and twelve Secretaries during the plenary session held to put in place a Permanent Bureau of the House for 2023.

All members of the outgoing permanent bureau were maintained during the vote.

Given the ruling party’s large majority in parliament, yesterday’s vote, political commentators said, was a mere formality. Elections in both houses of parliament are often stage-managed with heavy influence from the executive arm of government.

Once reelected yesterday, Hon Cavaye Yeguie, while on the rostrum, first thanked the Head of State for the renewed confidence, before proceeding to take over to chair the proceedings, which witnessed the rest of the electoral process to have the bureau completed.

“Let me first express my deep and profound gratitude to His Excellency Paul Biya, the National Chairman of my party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM. My deep and profound gratitude for this renewed confidence,” the veteran politician said in a pre-prepared scripted address delivered shortly after his re-election.

He continued that: “Indeed, by granting me the investiture of the party of which he is in charge, he is allowing me to accede, once again, to the prestigious post of Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon. Thank You Mr. President!”

“As I like to say, I have never betrayed. I will never betray. For this new mandate at the perch, I will spare no effort to always be worthy of the trust placed in my modest person,” he stated.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the various bodies and senior officials of the party for their support. As for you, dear colleagues, I am grateful for your votes in my favour. Those who abstained or voted against me expressed themselves in their own way. That is how democracy works! However, I would like to reassure you, as in the past, I will be the President of the National Assembly for all, listening to all, without distinction,” Cavaye Yegueie concluded.

Since joining parliament in the early 70s, Hon Cavaye Yeguie, it should be said, has steadily climbed all the rungs of the ladder at the National Assembly.

He began as an ordinary Member of Parliament, before moving to become a Questor in the House. He has also been Vice-President before emerging Speaker in 1992 following a parliamentary election boycotted by the Social Democratic Front, SDF.

Hon. Hilarion Etong, CPDM Member of Parliament, was voted First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He won by 142 of the 157 votes cast. Fifteen ballots were submitted empty. He was the lone candidate for the position.

Senate to elect bureau again

Though a permanent bureau has been put in place at the Senate, a similar exercise is expected to be carried out in under two weeks.

This will be after the newly-elected Senators of the March 12 Senatorial election would have been handed their attributes.

President Paul Biya is expected to appoint 30 Senators to complete the House made up of 100 members.

Once that is done this week, the newly elected lawmakers and their appointed peers will meet in a session as of right by April 15. During the session, a fresh permanent bureau will be elected to replace yesterday’s elected bureau members.