Why Biya To Put-Up Senate In Jan. 2013

MPs Set To Discuss New Modalities For Electing Senators This Nov. Session

By Musa Isa

The just-starting November session of parliament, may be the last for members of parliament MPs to attend. This, Chronicle learnt is before their first six (6) months bonus’ extension mandate expires. Its further extension is doubted following hints that municipal/legislative elections may hold by March 2013. Yet, a presidential insider hinted Chronicle on grounds of anonymity that Biya is bent on seeing the senate put in place first, by January 2013. Chronicle was further updated that it would be in fulfillment of his pledge in the Far North recently, when he went to condole with flood victims. Accordingly, Biya is expected to officially make things more pellucid during his end-of-year message to the nation on December 31, 2012. It is further expected that during this session of parliament, a bill would be tabled to fine-tune the modalities for the election of senators.

A senate house comprising 100 senators is expected to be put in place. What is certain is the fact that each of the ten (10) regions in Cameroon would produce 10 senators: seven elected, while three appointed by the Head of State. The present political map already gives President Biya’s CPDM almost all the seats. Yet, there is a nuance.

Last week, an opposition MP hinted Chronicle that the modalities to elect senators was not clear: he said they are going into the November session with expectations that a bill would be tabled to make things clearer. Chronci9le was clarified that because municipal councillors are the ones to elect senators, there is a game plan to this.

Chronicle was told that the recent romance between Fru Ndi’s SDF and Biya’s CPDM has been a strategy for Biya to become flexible. Accordingly, should all municipal councillors elect at the regional level, then CPDM would back all senators: that should this be reviewed so that councillors vote at the divisional levels, then SDF would have a say.

Analyzing the situation, Chronicle’s attention was drawn to the fact that CPDM controls 18 councils while SDF has just 16 in North West; that CPDM councillors in NW surpass those of SDF by four (4) combined. Reason why if senators are voted at the regional level, then SDF would be left with no senator.

This is the pretext which some opposition MPs have hinted Chronicle; is one of the reasons why Biya wants to slate senate elections in January, so that his CPDM sweeps all.

Moreso, the introduction of the biometric system of registration cast doubts about CPDM’s invincibility. Accordingly, should municipal/legislative elections be held first, senators would therefore be elected under the streamline set up. The risk that CPDM may lose most of the senators after the biometric/elections in what critics say may be forcing Biya to call-up senate elections in January.