YAOUNDE—The opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) claimed victory Wednesday, after a new government proposal tabled in parliament increased the number of member of the Electoral Board of Elecam and raised the possibility of a broader representation in the controversial electoral organ.

SDF Chairman John Fru Ndi: There'll be elections in Cameroon under the present disposition of Elecam

Over the last one year, the SDF led an anti-Elecam campaign, warning “there would be no election in Cameroon under the current constitution of Elecam”. John Fru Ndi, the party chairman withdrew SDF’s participation in voter registration committees even though he later said he had not called for a popular boycott of the vote.

“The government has given in to our demands,” said Cyprian Awudu Mbaya, the SDF lawmaker from Donga Mantung and quaestor at the National Assembly. Mbaya said the bill that was tabled Wednesday at the start of an extraordinary session of the House was the result of his party’s pressure, in remarks to reporters.

The change also came shortly after a visit of a UN envoy on election matters to push for more credible election this year. Lynn Pascoe, the UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs and elections focal point, was in Cameroon last month to keep step with preparations ahead of the coming presidential election.

A key change being proposed by the Biya administration is the increase of the number of members of Elecam from 12 to 18. The assumption at this point is that a completely new board would be appointed to include members of the opposition and the civil society, even though the Elecam texts say members should be independent people of “integrity”.

Parliament’s Constitutional Law Committee began examining the bill Tuesday evening. It is expected to pass easily by Saturday when the extraordinary session wraps up, partly because of the crushing majority of the CPDM and partly because the opposition appears to have seen something to take out of the bill.

Even though the change is now being viewed as a positive thing, opposition leaders are worried about the prospects that six additional people may simply be appointed and added to the existing 12, which includes former members of the CPDM politburo, central committee and administration. That would still leave a powerful CPDM voice on the board.

President Biya might have made some concession but he also took away some powers from Elecam. The organ would now be unable to declare election trends, leaving the job of results entirely in the hands of the Constitutional Council, which is currently represented by the Supreme Court.

• 11/12/2010 10:47 - EXCLUSIVE: Biya, Fru Ndi discuss elections during “frank” talks
• 08/12/2010 10:33 - Fru Ndi present as Biya visits Bamenda
• 08/12/2010 09:28 - SDF receives Biya in Bamenda
• 13/10/2010 12:52 - First Christian party is launched in Cameroon
• 28/09/2010 10:42 - ELECAM to meet with election stakeholders

• 29/09/2011 09:47 - Cameroon forces fire at armed man amid fears of election violence
• 22/09/2011 12:10 - Biya pins re-election campiagn on fear
• 22/09/2011 11:59 - Fru Ndi: change is at your door
• 04/05/2011 15:56 - Government forced to dump thousands of job seekers
• 08/04/2011 09:51 - China Hopes to Promote Military Exchanges with Cameroon

• 06/04/2011 13:38 - BREAKING: Biya rips Elecam of more powers
• 06/04/2011 10:29 - Former Central African Republic leader dies in Douala hospital
• 30/03/2011 14:36 - Panic grips elite as Grand North buys Muna’s APF
• 30/03/2011 13:00 - Author jailed for insulting Chantal Biya
• 28/03/2011 19:21 - Confused or smart: Fru Ndi on the SDF before elections