The Member of Parliament from the Upper Plateau in the West Region was elected a during a plenary session yesterday, Tuesday March 17.
The air inside the hemicycle of the Paul Biya Glass House was thick with anticipation long before proceedings began. By 2:00 p.m., the scheduled hour for plenary, the hemicycle was already bursting at the seams. Lawmakers, officials, and onlookers filled the seats, while the upper galleries overflowed with a crowd eager – some curious, others skeptical to witness what circulated hours before across social media.
A change was coming at the helm of the August House. Inside the chamber, those whispers lingered in hushed conversations, punctuated by nervous laughter and quiet rebuttals of what some still called “fake news.”
Time stretched. Minutes turned into an hour. Eyes remained fixed on the great doors. At exactly 3:26 p.m., the eldest member of the House, Soppo Toute Marlyse, finally called the session to order. A procedural calm settled over the chamber as she confirmed quorum and announced the day’s sole agenda which was the election of the 23-member bureau.
When she called for candidates for the post of Speaker of the National Assembly, the head of the parliamentary group of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, Honourable Roger Melingui, rose and, in a steady voice, put forward a single name: Datouo Théodore. There were no other candidates.
As envelopes were distributed for the vote, a voice rang out from the chamber, boisterous, almost defiant, suggesting there was no need for an election. The room erupted in laughter, briefly breaking the tension that had gripped the assembly. But the calm was fleeting. Amid the murmurs and procedural wrangling, the chosen one – Datouo Théodore sat serene.
Around him, cameras flashed relentlessly as journalists scrambled to to get one more shot. For a brief stretch, the vast chamber seemed to hold its breath.
There were 147 voters. When the results were announced, there were 14 empty envelopes, signaling abstentions. The rest, an overwhelming majority – 90.47 percent had spoken. Soppo Toute Marlyse, then, declared Datouo Théodore was duly elected Speaker of the National Assembly.
Applause thundered across the hemicycle. Lawmakers crossed aisles, exchanging handshakes and congratulations. Summoned to the podium, Datouo Théodore rose to take his place.
In his first address as Speaker, he expressed “profound gratitude” to Paul Biya for the confidence bestowed upon him, and extended thanks to his fellow parliamentarians for their trust. He pledged attentive leadership, assuring members across the political spectrum that their voices would be heard. He paid tribute to the legacy of his predecessor, acknowledging decades of service and affirming his respect for the wisdom that came before him.
The tone set, business resumed with the election of Vice President Hon. Hilarion Etong and the rest of the bureau members including vice presidents, Quaestors, and Secretaries. The head of the CPDM parliamentary group also pledged support, vowing that the majority would spare no effort in accompanying the new Speaker in his mission.
Claudette Chin
