Maurice Kamto, president of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon, denounces in a statement dated April 26, 2024, ELECAM’s refusal to register voters on weekends, accusing the institution of preparing electoral fraud. The opponent criticized the limitation of registrations by ELECAM and mentioned information on alleged fraudulent maneuvers involving local officials of the organization. Maurice Kamto calls on the Cameroonian people to remain mobilized for peaceful change through the ballot box.
Here is an excerpt from his statement.
“The mobilization of Cameroonians to register on the electoral lists constitutes a decisive step for the realization of our fundamental option of Change in peace and through the ballot boxes in Cameroon. We believed that, like the other actors in the electoral system, ELECAM, which has been struggling in this area for a decade, welcomed as good news this enthusiasm of Cameroonians to register on the electoral lists, and their desire to participate finally significantly in the elections; all things which give credibility to the Cameroonian electoral system and establish the legitimacy of the political institutions of our country. This is how we understood and welcomed the availability of the ELECAM teams who were already working on Saturdays and Sundays, and who have recently been deployed in the field on working days, sometimes until around 6 p.m.
However, in recent days, we have learned from several teams on the ground that local ELECAM officials, in accordance with the instructions of the Director General of ELECAM, Mr. Eric ESSOUSSE, will henceforth oppose the registration of Cameroonians on the electoral lists. on Saturdays and Sundays, and after 3:30 p.m. on working days. While we thought it was a joke in bad taste, our teams on the ground confirmed to us the following days that this instruction had actually been applied since the weekend of Saturday April 20 and Sunday April 21, 2024, and Monday April 22 acting on working days.
I vigorously denounce this umpteenth act of misconduct by ELECAM. Moreover, according to information given by the media, officials of ELECAM and the Western Region Police are involved in a criminal network organizing pre-electoral fraud in Massangam by the clandestine establishment of the CNI and the registrations on the ELECAM electoral lists.
Such crimes cannot go unpunished: not only must those affected be dismissed immediately, they must be brought to justice and punished severely in accordance with the law. Showing its usual indifference would mean for the government to assume direct and complete responsibility for these despicable acts which ruin the slightest credit that we might still have in public institutions.
Those responsible for this institution, at whatever level, must immediately measure the disastrous consequences of their bad behavior and other undemocratic practices on social peace. They must be well aware that when the time comes they will have to fully assume their individual responsibilities before the Cameroonian people.
Faced with the suffering of a bruised people, abandoned by the current leaders, languishing in massive unemployment, deprived of resources to feed themselves in an acceptable way or to care for themselves in the event of illness, deprived of water and electricity, we cannot push arrogance to the point of depriving him of the only glimmer of hope that remains, namely the right to vote, to choose the leaders he intends to give himself to resolve his vital problems.
There was: the refusal to publish the national electoral list in accordance with the electoral law; obstacles to registration on the electoral lists for dubious reasons of unavailability of kits; proof that ELECAM is actively working to stagnate the electoral register with a number of registered voters which fell between 2011 and 2023 despite the registration campaigns carried out during this period. Here, through its General Director, ELECAM openly opposes the registration of Cameroonians on the electoral lists. He thus openly makes himself an active agent of pre-electoral fraud.
Let all those who still doubted the partiality of ELECAM, or who pretended not to see, note that this institution and its current leaders are working to make democracy disappear in our country.
I ask the Cameroonian people to remain mobilized for CHANGE IN PEACE AND THROUGH THE VOLTERS.
We are approaching crucial deadlines for the destiny of Cameroon and pre-electoral fraud is in full swing. The major maneuvers have already begun. But nothing and no one can overcome the great wave of unprecedented mobilization which is coming to us from the deep country, the big cities and the countryside.
In the weeks and months to come, you will see the forces of change and national rebirth unfold to allow the Cameroonian people to freely choose their leaders during the legislative and municipal elections and the upcoming presidential election. You will also see the forces of Cameroon’s political status quo and regression, who work openly or discreetly for the regime in place, trying to distract you from the struggle while the Cameroonian people have never been closer to taking control. of his destiny.
I am counting on you not to let yourself be fooled by those who want to discourage you by telling you that change through elections is impossible in Cameroon. Each of us, as voters, will be accountable for the future of Cameroon from 2025: through our vote we will have contributed to its collapse or its recovery.
Done in Yaoundé, April 26, 2024
The National President,
Maurice KAMTO »
