Cameroon Petition: Kamto 'Defends' Victory, SDF Presents Case Today

Cameroon poll petition, Team Kamto ruffle Council, SDF case to he heard today

Hearings will continue today, October 18, in Yaounde where two main opposition parties are challenging the presidential polls of October 7 before the Constitutional Council.

Sixteen of eighteen petitions were dismissed by the Council on the first day of its sitting earlier this week. The only two admitted were that of main opposition parties, the Social Democratic Front, SDF, and the Cameroon Renaissance movement, CRM.

Cameroon Petition: Kamto 'Defends' Victory, SDF Presents Case Today

The CRM, led by former minister Maurice Kamto, went into the polls in a coalition with Akere Muna’s Now Movement. Kamto has since close of polls claimed that he won the vote.

He stressed before the Council that he stood by the declaration: “My declaration on 8th October was based on information from my representatives in some polling stations in most regions,” state-owned CRTV quoted him as saying.

Himself, Muna and a team of lawyers have taken center stage at proceedings before the Council. First, asking some members of the council to recuse themselves over partiality and demanding a neutral body sits on the petition, both instances were rejected as being without locus.

Kamto's lawyers call on Constitutional council members to examine their consciences and render judgement that will protect their legacy.

On the substantive case, Team Kamto, have taken turns to present evidence before the Council to prove their case of gross electoral infractions and the subsequent need to scrap the entire process. The ruling CPDM and elections body, ELECAM, have responded by saying the claims where wholly untrue.

The SDF’s legal team will take their turn today to present the facts underlying their call for a total cancellation of the vote. Meanwhile, reports indicate that a ruling is expected today on the Kamto team’s submissions.