The bill was received at a plenary session Tuesday, June 25, 2019 chaired by house speaker, Hon. Cavayé Yéguié Djibril in the presence of Bolvine Wakata, Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Relations with Parliament.

The bill which has been referred to the Constitutional Laws Committee for scrutiny is to the effect that the term of office of MPs be extended by two months when it expires on October 29, 2019.

In line with Article 15(4) of the Constitution, and in a bid to organised the council and parliamentary elections at the same time and to have smooth November session of parliament during which the country’s budget will be deliberated, President Biya wants the mandate of MPs extended for two months beginning October 29, 2019 when the first extension expires.

Indeed, Article 15(4) of the 1996 Constitution reads: “In case of serious crisis or where circumstances so warrant, the President of the Republic may, after consultation with the President of the Constitutional Council and Bureaux of the National Assembly and the Senate, request the National Assembly to decide, by law, to extend or abridge its term of office. In this case, the election of a new Assembly shall take place not less than 40 (forty) days and not more than 120 (one hundred and twenty) days following the expiry of the extension or abridgement period.”

Bolvine Wakata, Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Relations with Parliament is expected to defend the bill.

Hon. Joseph Njang Mbah Ndam reacts

 Hon. Joseph Njang Mbah Ndam, Vice President of the National Assembly and Legal Adviser of the opposition Social Democratic Front expressed mixed feelings, but hopes the extension gives President Paul Biya enough time to level the playfield and resolve the Anglophone Crisis.

His words: “My feelings are mixed because I don’t know if in two months’ time we would have had peace. What we need most importantly in this country is for the situation to change, for the grounds to be levelled for effective elections to take place.

“We had a problem of a short level of extension but I think it is fine because it is predicated on section 15(4) of the constitution which says when circumstances so warrant. So, we are still thinking that the President of the Republic is looking to resolve the Anglophone crisis within the two months.”

The opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party has since asked for elections to be postponed until such a time when the socio-political crisis in Cameroon’s North West and South West Regions is resolved.