The Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) is holding the congress three weeks to the October 9, 2011 presidential election in which President Paul Biya is the party’s candidate. The congress that ends on Friday, September 16, also comes at a time the CPDM has witnessed substantial growth with 14 Sections in the Diaspora and 250 Sections within Cameroon. The Chairperson of the Mobilisation and Animation Sub-committee of the congress, Bidoung Mpkatt says over 25,000 party supporters are expected in the nation’s capital, Yaounde for the historic congress that will have some 1134 statutory members.
What will remain historic will be election of the National Chairman and members of the Central Committee that will take place on September 16. The calibre of members elected will probably give the fresh impetus to the CPDM, in accordance with the theme.
Following the programme, substantive members of the Central Committee will meet in-camera later on Friday to vote Vice Presidents of the Central Committee. The take- home message for the elected Central Committee members, members of the Political bureau, executive members of specialised organs and all party supporters will be the Chairman’s closing speech. From every indication, the speech will focus on new orientations for the party and the country as a whole.
Considering that the congress is taking place on the heels of the October 2011 presidential election in which incumbent Paul Biya will be competing with some 20 other candidates pending the ruling of the Constitutional Council on 19 petitions, the CPDM will use the congress to redouble mobilisation efforts to give their party candidate landslide victory. The mobilisation for the congress has been high with delegates, observers and party supporters streaming into Yaounde from all the nooks and crannies of the country and from abroad.
