The national president of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement Friday signed a 9 page circular out lining criteria for the selection of CPDM candidates to be based on list system.
Circular N° 03/RDPC/PN of July 5, 2013 on the investiture of CPDM candidates for upcoming legislative and municipal elections outlines legal and party criteria on the one hand and components of the application file on the other. Concerning legislative elections, “lists will be constituted at the divisional level, with each list being made up of substantive and alternate candidates for both ordinary and special constituencies”. From a legal stand point, all candidates must be: at least 23 years of age on election day, they must be able to read and write in English or French, all lists must take into consideration the various sociological components of the division, minority groups, gender issues as well as the overall respect of conditions spelt out by the law. Looking at the criteria emanating from the party, the circular of the National president puts in place seven factors to guide the game notably: the political history of the candidate, the experience and commitment of the militant concerned, his/her contribution to the activities of the party as well as the spirit of discipline showcased so far, lists of services rendered to the party, the candidate’s status, morality, credibility and competence together with his/her loyalty towards state institutions and respect for the ideals of unity and national integration. Talking about the content of the application files of substantive and alternate candidates, the legal documents to be submitted include: three copies of a legally signed declaration of candidature, a signed affidavit, a copy of his/her birth certificate signed not more than three months ago, a certificate of non conviction signed not more than three months ago by a competent judicial authority, a tax certificate, a certificate of nationality, an attestation of registration on the electoral register, the original receipt for payment of a caution (FCFA 1,000,000) collectively paid into the public treasury by the substantive and alternate candidates after their investiture by the party.As well, seven party related documents make up the application file. Amongst them are: a signed statement of oath indicating that the person concerned can only be candidate for a legislative position, a curriculum vitae, a photocopy of the membership card, proves of party contributions since 2007, a prove of house ownership in the division or in the special constituency as well as the list of services rendered to the party.At the level of municipal elections, “lists will be constituted at the council level, with each list being based on legal and party imperatives”. The criteria outlined by law stem from six parameters. That is, each candidate must be at least 23 years of age by election day, be able to read and write in English or French, respect sociological aspects of the council area, respect for the rights of minorities, gender and overall respect of general eligibility conditions for the election. Party imperatives on their part revolve around the political history of the candidate, his/her experience and commitment in the council area, his/her knowledge of the local environment, his/her contribution to the smooth functioning of the party in the council area, the spirit of party discipline and team work, list of services rendered to the party in the council area, his/her status, morality and credibility, his/her competence and implication in local development, loyalty towards state institutions and respect for the ideals of unity and national integration.The application files of municipal councilors will be made up of documents inspired by national laws and roles of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement. In this regard, legal documents include: three copies of a declaration of candidature containing a legalized signature, a sworn declaration, a copy of the candidate’s birth certificate signed not more than three months ago, a certificate of non conviction signed not more than three months ago by a competent judicial authority, a tax certificate, a certificate of nationality, an attestation of registration on electoral registers as well as an attestation of residence in the council area. Looking at the documents required by the party, hopefuls for the post of municipal councilor would have to submit an application form for the investiture of the party, to be delivered by the Secretary General of the Central Committee for the election of municipal councilors filed and signed by the applicant, an affidavit indicating that the militant is a candidate for municipal elections, a curriculum vitae, a copy of the CPDM membership card, proves of party contributions since 2007 and finally a list of services rendered to the to the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement.
MANYANYE IKOME