An elective assembly of the North West Chapter of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, was held amidst a heavy storm provoked by some isolated journalists who were later identified as non-CAMASEJ members. At the end of the day, the storm was over and the law applied and a new executive led by Vitalis Tanteh finally put in place.

Friday 9 July 2010 will, however, go into the annals of journalism in Cameroon as the day the North West Chapter of CAMASEJ experienced the most dramatic scene in the election of its new executive. Such an election has never been observed in the Association of men and women of the Fourth Estate, an election where bitterness and anguish reigned supreme, where mobilisation was total and invectives thrown at each other. The venue was the conference hall of the Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy, CHRAPA.

Unlike previous monthly meetings at which a lot of issues about the profession are discussed, this one had only two items on the agenda; the “njangi” and election of a new executive that will manage CAMASEJ activities for the next two years, considering that the outgoing executive had served two successful terms as per the constitution.

Choves Loh, who led the old executive, then introduced Barrister Henry Kemende, who is the North West Bar Council representative, as chairman of the electoral commission. Barrister Kemende, in turn, appointed two other officials, Joseph Chongsi Ayeah, CEO of CHRAPA and Priscilla Agendia as scrutinizers.

Moment for Bitterness
After reading through the constitution, especially the Articles governing elections in CAMASEJ, one of the candidates, Lucas Teneng, raised an objection, wanting to know the criteria for choosing the electoral commission whereas the constitution states that the commission shall be elected by the assembly. Though the neutrality of Barrister Kemende’s commission was not doubted, some views were that the constitution should be respected. This subject dragged on for over an hour, leading to near physical confrontations as members threw invectives at each other. This even forced some members to leave the hall and not to be part of the tense atmosphere caused more by those who were supposed to be observers but imposed themselves as members.

In the absence of no other nominations in the commission, the trio was accepted. Trouble again started when it came to identification. Those considered as impostors vowed that no elections will go on if they were sent out of the hall. After more than an hour of accusations and counter-accusations the financial members stood their ground that a respected and reputable association like CAMASEJ cannot be held hostage by a few who are not even members, promising to crush anyone who dare stood on the path of democracy. The forces of law and order were even called in and kept on alert and asked to only come in if the disorder continued. But the storm was over and the forces of law and order did not come in.

Elections After All
The bickering that had characterised most parts of the assembly gave way for a serene, transparent and peaceful election. Two candidates were nominated for the post of president, Vitalis Tanteh and Lucas Teneng. Each was given three minutes to campaign, but Lucas Teneng whose candidacy was supported decided to back out honourably for Tanteh.

Tanteh in his campaign presented a lofty programme for CAMASEJ, promising to make the Association more inclusive. For democracy to prevail, members still cast their ballots in a transparent manner and at the end Vitalis Tanteh emerged winner with 31 votes cast as against six null ballots.
For the post of vice president, Peterkins Manyong who had earlier been tipped as the lone candidate found his position threatened when Jeff Ngawe was also nominated and supported for the same position.

Jeff Ngawe finally beat Peterkins Manyong by 24 votes to 12.

For the post of Secretary General, two candidates stood, Comfort Musa and George Chiffu. Just like Teneng did, Chiffu also honourably backed out for Comfort Musa to stand unchallenged. Democracy again was respected and Musa scored 33 votes with four null ballots.

Besides the post of treasurer which was highly contested between Rosaline Obah and Priscilla Agendia with the latter carrying the day just by a difference of two votes, the other executive members were voted by acclamation. They are Eric Akam as Vice Secretary General, Richard Jato as Public Relations Officer after Elvis Dogo Dogo declined, and Sylvia Bih as Social Secretary. The newly elected executive will in the days ahead put in place its advisers.

Barrister Henry Kemende who is also ELECAM delegate for Ndop said he was visibly satisfied with the outcome of the elections. He said though not an easy exercise dealing with journalists, the results were very reflective of the fact that the members are committed to work as a family.

The newly elected president, Vitalis Tanteh, in his acceptance speech, thanked members for the confidence and said they should all join him to push CAMASEJ forward. He said he shall be working for the interest of all CAMASEJ members while a CAMASEJ North West Secretariat and making the association sustainable will be his priorities.

Vitalis Tanteh is a journalist working 100% Jeune Magazine and North West coordinator of ACMS.