Cameroon prepare to hold its first Regional Election come December 6 2020. The election which shall led to putting in place of the regional councils is in the ten regions of the country is a bold step taken by the government towards completing the institutional framework enshrine in the Cameroonian constitution to guarantee decentralization.
Since the convening of the election by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, on September 07 2020, there have hustling and bustling by actors; political parties and the election governing body Elections Cameroon( ELECAM).
Preparations of the pools that will result to the election of 900 regionals councillors have geared up since the convening of the electorate. After political parties interested in running for the December 6 pools nominated by their candidates and submitted them to ELECAM Divisional delegation during the two weeks period as stipulated by the law, the election governing ELECAM according to the law governing elections in Cameroon, has published the list of candidates whose candidacy eligible for the election.
Right now is the phase of campaigns that began on November 02 2020.
Political parties as according to the law are expected during the two weeks period given them to convinced voters who are municipal councillors and traditional chiefs. They are expected to use different communication and strategies to woe voters.
As December 06 draw closer, all is set for peaceful and calm elections
Regional Elections: Major Dates In The Electoral Process
Convening of Electoral College: September 7, 2020
The election to vote 900 Regional Councilors was convened by the President of the Republic Paul Biya on September 7, 2020. The degree stipulates in its article 2 that voting shall begin at 8 am and shall end at 6p.m.
Deadline For Submission Of Candidatures: September 22, 2020
Political parties interested in running for the December 6 Regional Elections have already begun nominating candidates to contest. Within the two weeks provided by law, political parties will either nominate or organize primaries to select their candidates for the race in each regions.
Whatever the method used the parties have to endorse the candidatures and their complete files have to be deposited at the ELECAM Divisional Branches before midnight of September 22, 2020.
Publication of list of candidates: October 7, 2020
The candidates’ files that would have been received at the ELECAM branches will be forwarded to the Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon. The board will within two weeks examine the eligibility of the candidatures before the list of candidates retained for the race is published by Elections Cameroon.
Pre-electoral Petition Hearings
Political parties that are in that race have 72 hours from the time publication of the list of candidates for the Regional Election to file any petition to the Constitutional Council.
Start Of Campaigns: November 2, 2020
Two weeks before voting day, Campaigns are launched as per the Electoral Code. All political parties in the race will have the latitude to use the different communication channels and strategies to woe voters. Campaigns end on the eve of voting day at mid night.
Post Electoral Litigation Hearings
After voting on December 6, 2020, political parties will again have 72 hours from the close of the polls to file their petitions the Constitutional Council will hear the petitions was pass judgment.
In the meantime the National Vote Counting Commission compel the results coming from the regions making sure to correct all mechanical errors before handing over their final copy to the President of the Constitutional Council for proclamation of results.
Proclamation Of Results
The Constitutional Council has a period of not more than two weeks from the close of the polls to proclaim the results of the election. Consequently results could be expected around the December 21, 2020
