The Regional Delegate of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, for the South West, Zofoa Njoya, on April 15, 2026, carriedout a working visit to Bangem to assess the ongoing voter registration exercise in Kupe Muanenguba Division.
The visit aimed to evaluate field operations, identify challenges, and boost mobilization ahead of upcoming elections.
The Regional Delegate held working sessions with divisional and council ELECAM officials in Bangem, Nguti, and Tombel, reviewing registration statistics.
Field teams cited poor road access to some localities, low turnout in rural areas, and the need for stronger sensitization as key obstacles. Njoya urged staff to intensify outreach and work closely with the media, traditional authorities, municipal councils, and civil society to register all eligible citizens.
At a meeting in the ELECAM Bangem office, Njoya reminded stakeholders that voter registration remains open and free. He called on youths who have attained voting age and persons who changed residence to get registered.
According to him, analysis showed that Kupe Muanenguba ranked among the top divisions in voter registration in previous years, with Bangem taking first position in 2020 and second in 2021. He expressed regret that the division is not maintaining that lead in 2026.
The Kupe Muanenguba Branch Head of ELECAM, Agbor Jacobs, revealed that since January 2026, Bangem has registered 104 voters, Nguti 222, and Tombel 296, making a total of 622 registered voters.
He said the branch lacks office equipment such as multipurpose printers and laptops to facilitate work. Despite the challenges, he expressed gratitude for chairs and tables provided by ELECAM, which have aided operations.
The Senior Divisional Officer for Kupe Muanenguba, Nguia Beina Theophile, called on political parties to encourage voter registration. He noted that poverty remains a major challenge, as many people cannot afford money needed for registration-related documents such as birth certificates. He urged councils political parties and elite to work together to reduce the financial burden on the population and provide necessary support.
Reacting during the meeting, Clovis Ntungwe of the PCRN said he does not trust ELECAM. He alleged that names of deceased persons still appear on the electoral list and claimed that some elites see opposition parties as enemies. He added that he has never seen a division where only one party is favoured, alleging that opposition members are sometimes threatened.
Awah Paul Nzegge of the SDF said they were satisfied with ELECAM’s operations but regretted that some polling station chairpersons are government agents and cannot be neutral.
Epie Denis, representing the CPDM, expressed satisfaction with the meeting and said that if all stakeholders continue to work in unity, the objectives raised will be achieved soon. He encouraged the population to vote for their leaders, stressing that if they fail to vote, others will decide for them.
On the issue of missing voter cards, the Regional Delegate urged the population to report such cases to competent authorities. He also advised families to declare deaths officially so that names of deceased persons can be removed from the electoral list.
By Ngoh Jude Larissa-Dian
