Tension Mounts In Douala Ahead Of October 26

By Joe Dinga Pefok

Barely a fortnight to the re-run of municipal elections in Douala V Municipality, tension is already mounting as both the ruling CPDM and the SDF are poised to take over the hotly contested council.

Just like what happened at the Legislative elections re-run last year in Wouri East where the CPDM and the SDF transformed the constituency into a battle ground, a similar stage is being prepared for October 26. Tension is already mounting between Françoise Foning and Jean Michel Nintcheu, with militants of both camps openly rehearsing 'war songs' and issuing threats against each other.

The CPDM hierarchy is reportedly mobilising some 200 party officials and elite to reinforce the party's campaign team to help Foning win.As for the SDF, the party National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi, as well as some of the party's big shots, is expected in Douala to reinforce the party's campaign team.

As campaigns officially kicked off in Douala V on October 11, the Littoral SDF Boss, Hon Jean Michel Nintcheu, has called on his militants to watch out for ambulant voters.Hon Nintcheu told The Post that the greatest problem the SDF will have to grapple with on October 26 will be to identify ambulant voters.

Following declarations by the DO for Douala V that people could vote without voter's cards, Nintcheu expressed fears that the situation might facilitate ambulant voting.The situation comes as a result of the partial burning down of the Sub-divisional office in Douala V, during February upheavals.

According to the DO, considering that thousands of unclaimed voters cards were burnt, people will be allowed to vote without cards, as long as they present their national identity cards and if their names are in the voters' register.

Meanwhile, Nintcheu told The Post that the party has been sensitising registered SDF militants to go to the party's local campaign headquarters or to the nearest local party officials when they cannot find their names or in difficulties to vote. "We have set up a team with the task of consulting MINATD website to trace the polling stations of all militants who do not know their polling stations."

Foning Says No Cause For Panic
On her part, Madam Françoise Foning, the head of the CPDM list, who was ripped of the post of Mayor, has since been making frantic efforts to boost the moral of CPDM militants in Douala V to regain the lost council come October 26.

On the eve of the official launching of campaigns, Foning said she was very optimistic. She said they had started preparing for the elections re-run the very day the Supreme Court annulled the results of the July 22, 2007 municipal elections.

Comments

[Delors]

There shoukld be no doubt about the tensions in Douala. When Inoni invited Foning and the rival in the same party in Yaounde, we knew it was to give them money to go buy people to vote, fight and do whatever they can. 200 peeople are being sent to douala with bags of money and if possibly weapons to kill. After all he who kills in the name of biya and the party is a hero and it's automatically a qualification to become minister, director,ambassador etc. SDF watchout for they are guns all over in Douala but when they start, get the guns from them and use it on them