The CPDM in Bafut has begun laying the groundwork for the 2026/2027 municipal and legislative elections, with party officials urging militants to close ranks, strengthen their grassroots structures and reconnect with voters ahead of the polls.
The message came on Sunday, August 23, during a political seminar organised by the CPDM Mezam IV Bafut Sub-Section at the Bafut Council Hall in Nsoh.
The gathering provided a platform for party officials and militants to reflect on the political and security environment in Bafut, while examining some of the issues that could influence the party's performance in the forthcoming elections.
Discussions centred on four broad areas: the need for an improved electoral performance, security concerns, reconciliation within the party and stronger grassroots mobilisation.
Addressing participants on “The Imperative of CPDM Landslide Victory in Bafut,” Honourable Gordon Anyele, Divisional Representative at the North West Regional Assembly, called for renewed commitment from party militants.
He maintained that achieving a convincing result would require sustained mobilisation and greater involvement of party members at community level.
The security dimension of the electoral process was examined by WCPDM Section President Chesi Miriam. Her presentation focused on the challenges posed by the prevailing security situation and the need for political actors and militants to encourage a peaceful environment for participation in the electoral process.
For the party, internal cohesion was also presented as an important ingredient for electoral success.
Honourable Suhndale Marcelline, another Divisional Representative at the North West Regional Assembly, led discussions on internal appeasement and reconciliation. She urged militants to overcome personal differences and work towards rebuilding confidence and cooperation within the party.
The seminar was presided over by CPDM Mezam IV Section President Ngwakongoh Lawrence, who used the occasion to stress the importance of maintaining a permanent relationship between the party and the electorate.
He said the party's activities should not be limited to election periods, arguing that regular engagement with communities was necessary to understand the difficulties confronting the population.
Among the concerns he identified were unemployment, limited opportunities for young people, access to education and skills training, healthcare, finance, roads, potable water, electricity, agriculture and security.
The Section President further pointed to entrepreneurship and local economic opportunities as areas requiring greater attention if the party is to remain relevant to the population.
“Political parties must never take the population for granted,” Lawrence said, insisting that electoral victories should be built on continuous interaction with voters rather than last-minute campaigns.
He also called for better coordination among the party's various structures, improved communication between grassroots militants and leaders, and greater accountability from those representing the party.
The Bafut seminar comes at a time when political parties are beginning to position themselves for the next municipal and legislative elections. For the CPDM Mezam IV leadership, the challenge will be to translate its mobilisation efforts into stronger grassroots support while addressing concerns raised by the electorate.
The party's stated objective of securing a landslide victory in Bafut will therefore depend on how effectively it manages internal differences, engages communities and responds to the expectations of the population in the months leading to the polls.
By Neba Jerome Ambe
