Hon. Epoupa Lyonga Rachel died Sunday, August 11, 2013 in Limbe.

The Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM candidate for the September 30, 2013 legislative election for Fako East constituency (Limbe, Tiko and Muyuka) in the South West Region died on Sunday, August 11, 2013 in Limbe of heart attack, CRTV Radio reported citing National Assembly, family and CPDM party sources.

Incumbent Hon. Epoupa Lyonga Rachel one of the CPDM candidates for Fako East constituency, was a Member of the National Assembly in the eighth legislative period of the National Assembly whose term of office expired on July 23, 2013.

The death of Lyonga Rachel has created a vacuum in the CPDM list of candidates. However, the Electoral Code makes provisions for her replacement. Section 127 (1) of the Code provides that, “Where a candidate put forward by a political party dies before the opening of the election campaign, such candidate may be replaced on the initiative of the said political party.”  On clarifications on the situation, sub-section two of the same section states that, “The replacement referred to in Sub-section (1) above may be possible only where fresh candidacy papers are submitted to the General Directorate of Elections no later than 20 days preceding the day of election.” CPDM officials still have some time to replace the departed candidate before the deadline expires.