ELECAM Set for Senatorial in SW

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Southwest ELECAM Board Members schooling stakeholders on electoral code

ELECAM officials in the Southwest Region have revealed their state of preparedness ahead of the March 25 Senatorial elections as well as reassure councilors of their security throughout the voting process.

            The ELECAM Board members made the revelation on Friday 16 March 2018 during a stopover in Kumba, in the course of a five-day tour to access the readiness of the ELECAM Divisional branches as well as school stakeholders on pertinent aspects in the electoral code.  

            “We are on a five days tour to access the level of preparedness of our divisional representatives and to also meet with the administrators and discuss security concerns which are integral to the electoral process,” said the Elecam board member, Chris Tambe Tiku, adding that the tour will equally avail them the opportunity to exchange with electoral stakeholders on some of the provisions of the electoral code pertaining to the Senatorial elections.

            Tambe Tiku and former Governor Ejake Thomas edified stakeholders through a question and answer session on several issues which might pose problems on the day of voting.

            One of such provision is section 227 sub (2) and (3) which makes it mandatory for all municipal councilors to take part in the elections and for the councilors to give proxy to any other councilor(s) in case they are unavoidably absent.

            Tambe Tike noted that each councilor is entitled to only one proxy, meaning the issue of proxy is an exception and not a rule. He noted that it is important for the councilors to take part in the elections because the voting is by indirect suffrage and any boycott could seriously weigh on the final vote count.

            It was also revealed that a councilor from one sub-division can be proxy for another councilor in another sub-division in the same Division on the day of voting.

            Another heated debate centered on the representatives of parties at the polling stations. It was clarified that political parties can send their representatives to polling stations, but such representatives should not be candidates in the elections.

            Quizzed on the issue of security, the ELECAM Board Members reassured councilors of their security across the region in polling stations and back their homes. “The assurance we have is from the Governor and the SDO’s we have met in some of the places we have visited. They have assured us that measures are been taken to protect the councilors as well as the voting materials that will be escorted to some of the polling stations,” Tambe Tiku revealed.

            They as well decried the fact that none of the political parties have presented to the Regional Branch of ELECAM their campaign programme as prescribe by the code since the launching of the campaigns. The EELCAM Regional Head as well noted that it is through such process that she has to validate and endorse circulars, manifestos to be used by the parties.

            The ELECAM Board however pleaded with the stakeholders to ensure a true representation of what will obtain at the polls on voting day “If there are only five councilors they should reflect only five”.