In less than two weeks, the November session of parliament will begin. The session would as usual be devoted to deliberations and adoption of the state budget for the next financial year, 2022.
National Assembly building in Yaounde
Unfortunately, the session for both legislative houses would begin with at least eleven vacant seats. Since the last Senatorial and Legislative elections in 2018 and 2020 respectively, at least three Senators and nine Members of Parliament have died and the seats still empty.
Deaths at National Assembly
Since the start of the 10th legislature voted February 9, 2020, the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM party has lost nine of its lawmakers. The deceased MPs include: Honourables Ngahane Isaac of Wouri-East; Harouna Abdoulaye of Mayo Louti; Saraou Bernadette of Mayo Kani; Yakouba Yaya of Mayo Sava; Djibrilla Kaou of Mayo Tsanaga; Prince Mikody of the Boumba et Ngoko; Emilia Monjowa Lifaka of Fako West; Ngo Yetna Marinette of the Sanaga-maritime and Ngaba Zogo Salome of Lekie East constituencies.
Senate to start without three Senators
Members of the Upper House of Assembly will begin scrutinizing bills from the Lower House this November without three of their members. The three vacant seats includes two from the ruling CPDM party following death of Senators Nfon V.E Mukete and Sultan Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya and one from the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF party after the disappearance of HRH Senator Kumbongsi Dyx Meten, traditional ruler of Mfe village in the Donga Mantung division.
Parliament seeks intervention of ancestors
Rising number of deaths that has hit the current legislature featured on the speech of House Speaker, Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril during the opening of the June session of parliament this year. He used the session to call on the gods of the land to come to the rescue of MPs.
“The National Assembly has since the start of the 10th Legislative period, a year ago, had the worst death toll in just one year. It has lost 7 of its members. This unprecedented spade of deaths now warrants me to implore the gods to come to our rescue and to protect us,” Cavaye pleaded.
Both the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, it should be noted is made up of both a substantive and alternate candidates as per Section of 153 of the Electoral Code. Even Senators appointed by President Biya also have alternates.
What the law says on replacing vacant seats of MPs?
The Electoral Code provides certain conditions under which vacant seats at the National Assembly. The Electoral Code in Section 154 states that after the election of MPs and “in all cases of vacancy other than death of a substantive member, the alternate shall take the seat of the Member of Parliament at the National Assembly until the expiry of the latter’s term”
The code in Section 155 (I) however adds that seats which are vacant as a result of death can only be replaced through by-elections organised in the constituency concern.
“Where one or two more seats become vacant in a constituency either because of the death, resignation of the substantive or alternate member, or for any other reason, by-elections shall be held within a period of 12 (twelve) months following the occurrence of the vacancy,” the aforementioned Section states.
Replacing Senators
Relating to the replacement of vacant senatorial seats, Section 219 of the Electoral Code states that: “In case of the death of an elected Senator and in compliance with the provisions of Section 155 (1) above, by-elections shall be held in the region concerned”
The same code in Section 219 (II), adds: “In case of death of an appointed Senator, at the behest of the President of the Senate, a new Senator shall be appointed to complete his term”
Observers are now wondering why the President of the Republic who has the latitude to convene polls in the vacant constituencies is still to do so. Inhabitants of these vacant constituencies have expressed worries over their development projects, stating that without filling the vacant positions, they will be left without someone to lobby projects for them. Others have even stated that without an MP, their voices and concerns won’t be able to be represented in the assembly.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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