ELECTION OF REGIONL COUNCILLORS
STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION
The election of Regional Councillors convened by the presidential decree of 7 September 2020 took place today Sunday 6 December 2020 in all the 58 electoral constituencies.
10 236 municipal councillors and 14 002 traditional rulers, members of the electoral colleges, were called upon to vote nine hundred (900) first Regional Councillors in the political history of our country. The first, that is municipal councillors were to vote seven hundred (700) divisional delegates, while the latter, traditional rulers, were to elect two hundred (200) representatives of the traditional chiefdoms.
For this election, the Minister of Territorial Administration granted accreditations to 3457 observers, who freely went to these electoral constituencies nationwide. We are now waiting for their reports.
In compliance with the regulations in force, the polls started in the 272 polling stations at 8 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m.
Considering that this election is held in a special context marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Elections Cameroon took important precautions, in each polling station, for the respect of barrier measures in compliance with Government’s health protocol (taking of temperature, use of hand sanitizers, wearing of face mask, social distancing and hand washing with soap).
In his capacity as Government’s Agent in the electoral process, the Minister of Territorial Administration and administrative authorities provided optimum security to Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), independent body in charge of the entire electoral process.
From the opening of voting stations to closing at 6 p.m., Administrative Authorities gave a minute-by-minute report of this process in all the electoral constituencies in Cameroon.
At this moment, the Minister of Territorial Administration can say in clear terms that the election of Regional Councillors took place nationwide in a serene, calm and peaceful atmosphere.
No incident, likely to cast doubt on the credibility of the polls or sincerity of the results from the ballot box, was recorded.
This is an opportunity for the Minister of Territorial Administration to commend once again the irreversible choice of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, who has always instructed the speeding up of the decentralisation process in Cameroon.
The Minister of Territorial Administration would also like to sincerely thank the Head of State who provided all the needed means to all the election stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free election today.
The Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, has often insisted on the significance of boosting the decentralisation process, the advantage of which, as we all know, is to guarantee the development of Cameroon by granting to all the Regions of the country equal opportunities for their development.
The proclamation of the results of this election will start as from today by the Regional Supervisory Commission. In conformity with the legal provisions in force, the sessions as of right shall meet shortly to elect Regional Organs.
The putting in place of Regional Councils will establish the special status for the North-West and South-West Regions; a strong recommendation of the Major National Dialogue convened by the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA and presided over by the Prime Minister, Head of Government.
As such, The House of Chiefs shall be the exclusive specificity of the North-West and South-West Regions.
As a matter of fact, no local election will ever raise such enthusiasm and passion. The reason is simple; the election of Regional councillors today has come to complete the setting up of institutions provided for by the Constitution of our country.
This election will bring the administration closer to the people and guarantee to each Region close development in the sense that citizens, at all levels, sit in Regional Councils and participate effectively from the base in constructing our common destiny.
It is therefore a historic opportunity that is opened to our country with this election of Regional Councillors. Obviously, there will be winners and losers as is the case in any election; but for the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, it is rather Cameroon that is the great winner in this process, which establishes the setting up of Regional Councils and Regional Organs.
Today’s winners must always solicit the competence of the losers and the losers must exercise good faith by putting the interest of Cameroon above any personal or partisan interest.
Once again, the election of Regional Councillors has showed the maturity of the sovereign people of Cameroon, and master of their destiny, which has just demonstrated, more than ever before, that political legitimacy is obtained through the ballot box and by street protests or on social media.
The election of Regional Councillors of today will be a landmark in the current mandate of Greater Opportunities. Under the enlightened leadership of the tireless builder, His Excellency Paul BIYA, the future is bright for Cameroon. We should all take advantage of it.
Once again, I am declaring that today’s election went on in total calm, serenity and transparency throughout the national territory.
Thank you for your rapt attention.
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