ELECAM kept vigil yesterday March 13, as they prepared to receive submission papers of candidates. On the eve of the election of Senators - being the first ever, it was the air of eagerness at ELECAM head offices yesterday March 13, 2013. The corridors were visibly busy. From one office to the other, phone calls, jotting information here and there and from one meeting to the other , staff of ELECAM finalized preparations to organise the first-ever Senate elections in Cameroon.

At the central mail service of the Directorate General of Elections, business was intense. The Service Head, Nazaire Beiker remained calm, attending to users, making sure that the day-to-day running of the body went hitch-free and that users received the warm welcome they deserved. But as far as the submission of the nomination papers for candidates seeking to take up seats in the Upper House of Parliament was concerned, Nazaire Beiker was quick to note that they had not received any file. His information only came to confirm an earlier declaration from ELECAM Board Chair, Samuel Fonkam Azu’u. By press time yesterday afternoon, he said no file was received but it did not mean they could not come later.

“Today is the deadline”, he said, taking the example of the October 9, 2011 Presidential election where most candidatures were submitted on D-day. Taking inspiration from this scenario, Fonkam Azu’u said ELECAM has till midnight today March 14, 2013 when, its doors will close for the reception of nominations from political parties.

At the Regional Branch of ELECAM for the Centre in Yaounde, the same information filtered. No file had been received. The die has been cast and ELECAM branch offices across the country today March 14, will be home to the media that will be out to have first-hand information on the contents of the files, onlookers on their part to have glimpse of what is happening and ELECAM staff, working hard, to see that April 14 elections are hitch-free.