SDF convenes strategic North West Convention as "operation take back Bamenda" expands across Region

The opposition party will gather its regional leadership in Bamenda on Saturday to assess its structures, strengthen grassroots mobilisation and chart its electoral strategy ahead of key political contests.

Fongu Cletus addressing a party event in 2024

The Social Democratic Front will on Saturday, 4 July, hold a Strategic Regional Convention in Bamenda, bringing together party leaders from across the North West Region in what is expected to be a major organisational meeting ahead of future elections.

The convention will assemble Divisional Coordinators, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), members of the National Advisory Council (NAC) and other senior party officials to review the party's organisational strength and define strategies for upcoming electoral contests.

The meeting will be chaired by the SDF Regional Chairperson for the North West Region and Mayor of Bamenda III Council, Fongu Cletus Tanwe.

According to party officials, discussions will focus on evaluating the state of the party across the region, strengthening grassroots structures and preparing local organs for the demanding political calendar ahead.

The convention comes as the SDF intensifies what it has branded "Operation take back Bamenda", a campaign launched following the party's rare and highly visible participation in Cameroon's National Day celebrations on May 20 at Bamenda Commercial Avenue. Since then, the party has returned its National Executive Committee meetings to Bamenda after years of relocation due to insecurity and organised activities marking the anniversary of the late founding chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi.

Saturday's convention could signal an expansion of that campaign beyond Bamenda to the wider North West Region, where the party once enjoyed overwhelming political dominance before the outbreak of the Anglophone conflict reshaped the political landscape.

Unlike previous strategic meetings that focused largely on national issues, including preparations for the party's extraordinary national convention and presidential ambitions, the Bamenda gathering is expected to concentrate on rebuilding regional structures, revitalising local leadership and reconnecting with grassroots supporters.

Regional Chairperson Fongu Cletus Tanwe has consistently argued that the party's revival depends on discipline, organisation and the active participation of members at every level. While acknowledging the challenges facing the North West, he has previously expressed concern over the absence of some key party officials from major activities and has repeatedly called for unity as the party seeks to regain momentum.

Ahead of Saturday's convention, Cletus Tanwe stressed that attendance is imperative for all invited participants, describing the meeting as a critical moment in the party's rebuilding process.

Fongu Cletus believes recommendations emerging from the convention are expected to shape the SDF's regional strategy as it positions itself for future elections and seeks to consolidate recent gains in political mobilisation.

The convention is also expected to provide an opportunity for party leaders from across the North West to evaluate progress made since the last convention and consider how the momentum can be replicated across other divisions in the region.

The gathering is expected to test whether recent public demonstrations of renewed confidence can be transformed into a coordinated regional strategy capable of restoring the party's influence in one of its historic strongholds.

By Hiltopvoices Web Team 

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