CPDM Sweeps 63 of 70 Elective Senate Seats

By Innocent Kum in Yaounde

CPDM supporters in a street walk to drum support for President Paul Biya

The Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM has swept an overwhelming majority of seats in the senate after the March 25 polls.

The official statistics of the polls were made public in Yaounde Thursday by the constitutional council during a televised session.

            According to the official results from the constitutional council, the CPDM won 63 out of the 70 elective seats available. The remaining seven seats went to the main opposition, Social Democratic Front, SDF.

CPDM won in nine out of the ten regions of the country with the SDF winning only in the North West region. Seven other political parties that took part in the election won no seats.

            Official statistics put the CPDM at 81%, the SDF 8,72%, the NUDP which contested the polls in all ten regions of the country secured 5,92%  and the CDU 1,61%.

            The Union of the Populations of Cameroon, UPC for its part scored 1,41% , the National Salvation Front,  FSNC 0,76%, the United Democratic Party, UDP 0,16%  and the National Alliance for Democracy and Progress, ANDP scoring  0,13%

            Cameroon’s senate counts 100 seats, 70 of which are elected by municipal councilors while the remaining 30 are appointed by the president of the republic.

            The senatorial elections marked the start of a busy electoral calendar for Cameroon as it is expected to be followed by council, legislative and presidential elections later this year. The dates for these other elections are yet to be fixed by the President.

            Senators were first elected in Cameroon in April 2013. They have a five year mandate.