The Social Democratic Front (SDF) marked its 35th anniversary in the Bamenda III electoral district on Sunday, 25 May 2025, with a rally that blended remembrance of its founding fathers with a renewed call for power and national transformation.
SDF militant during anniversary march pass
The event, which brought together party militants and sympathisers was characterised by political speeches with messages of tributes to party pioneers, and a spirited march past led by the SDF's military wing; The Vanguard.
SDF Vanguard leading anniversary march pass
Speaking during the event, Bamenda III electoral district Chairperson Lucas Ngu Afong described the celebration as a moment of pride, especially for the district, which he said hosts the only SDF-run council in the North West Region. He used the occasion to draw comparisons between the performance of the SDF-led Bamenda III Council and councils managed by other political parties, notably the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM). Afong maintained that the SDF had proven itself more people-focused and development-oriented.
District Chairperson Lucas Ngu Afong addressing anniversary event
He stated that the time had come for the SDF to lead Cameroon, and declared that when the party assumes power in the coming months, transformative policies would follow. Among these, he highlighted a commitment to issuing National Identity Cards free of charge without the present bureaucratic delays, providing free health care for pregnant women up to two years after childbirth, and introducing a national education policy to ensure free education for all citizens up to the Ordinary Level.
District Chairperson Lucas Ngu Afong addressing anniversary event
“These promises are not mere rhetoric. They represent the SDF’s vision for a better Cameroon. But this vision can only become a reality through registration and active participation in elections.” Lucas Ngu Afong said
Regional Chairperson Fongu Cletus Tanwe, who doubles as Mayor of Bamenda III, used his address to raise concerns about what he described as potential attempts by certain political actors to intimidate voters through violence on polling day. He called on militants to mentally prepare themselves to resist fear tactics and promised that efforts were being made to bring polling stations closer to voters, thereby reducing voter fatigue and absenteeism.
Mayor Fongu, while acknowledging the determination of Chairperson Osih to lead the country, said the 35th anniversary was dedicated to the party’s founding fathers and heroes. He called for their spiritual blessing to guide the party in its current political journey.
“It is only through massive voter registration and turnout that the SDF can lead Cameroon,” he asserted.
He further pointed to the leadership of the Bamenda III Council as a justification of what an SDF-led administration could offer nationwide. Roads, electricity, water, and other social amenities delivered under the council, he said, are clear evidence of the party’s commitment to development.
The anniversary celebration culminated in a march past involving various wards within the district, each led by their ward chairperson.
The event not only revived the memories of the past but also reawakened hopes for the future, as the party prepares to contest for leadership of the country in upcoming elections and other elections in the nearest future.
By Bakah Derick
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