Party says flaws in October vote threaten credibility of upcoming council and parliamentary polls
The Social Democratic Front, SDF has formally challenged the conduct of the October 2025 presidential election in the North West Region, warning that unresolved flaws could undermine Cameroon’s next municipal and parliamentary elections.
The party’s North West Regional Chairman, Fongu Cletus Tanwie, submitted a memo to Elections Cameroon in Bamenda on Thursday 5 February, through the Regional Delegate, Mbowoh Elvis. The delegate declined comment, saying the claims fall under the authority of ELECAM’s national leadership, and pledged to forward the document.
In the memo, the SDF describes the presidential poll in the region as deeply compromised, citing what it calls administrative interference, security bias and widespread breaches of the Electoral Code. The party argues that ELECAM’s independence was undermined by the heavy presence of territorial administration officials in key electoral processes, particularly voter registration, which it says weakened neutrality and tilted the process in favour of the ruling party.
Security conditions are central to the SDF’s complaint. The party says prolonged ghost town operations, intimidation and movement restrictions effectively shut opposition campaigns out of large parts of the region, while senior ruling party officials were escorted by the military to campaign and vote.
“The playground was not level at all,” Fongu states in the memo.
.jpeg)
The SDF further alleges that procedures governing the voting of defence and security forces were ignored, with no published lists or validated applications, creating room for ballot stuffing in several council areas. It also accuses local officials of open interference on polling day, including rallies, voter instruction at polling stations and inflated turnout figures.
Most damaging, according to the party, was the creation of other polling centres, rather than legally recognised polling centers, which it says disenfranchised voters by forcing them to travel long distances under restrictive security conditions. The SDF argues this violated both the letter and spirit of the Electoral Code.
With 2026 set to bring council and parliamentary elections, the party is demanding urgent reforms, including the abolition of polling centres, sanctions against ELECAM staff accused of fraud, clear and public voter registration schedules, and strict military neutrality.
“If these violations go unchecked,” Fongu warns, “there is no guarantee of free and fair polls ahead.”
The memo places ELECAM under pressure to act, as opposition parties and voters watch closely for signs that lessons from the disputed presidential vote will be taken seriously.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Online
Tel: +237 694 71 85 77
