By Noela BISONG, Doh James & Engah Peter Parkers
Against all odds, Parliament has voted the Constitutional Amendment Bill tabled by government.
The 6th Congress of Parliament which ran from Thursday, April 2 to Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the National Assembly, has wrapped up with 205 Senators and Members of the National Assembly voting in favour of the Constitutional Reform, while 16 votes were against and 2 absent.
In his closing speech on Saturday, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Datouo Theodore, President of the 6th Parliamentary Congress, accompanied by the President of the Senate, His Majesty Aboubakary Abdoulaye, thanked the Congress men and women for endorsing the Constitutional Amendment bill despite the boycott and rejection of some opposition.
Bill No 2094/PJL/P from the Presidency to amend and supplement the constitution of 2 June 1972, as amended and supplemented by Law No .96,/06 of 18 January 1996 and Law No .2008/001 of 14 April 2008 has thus been finally adopted in Cameroon.
The said Bill was defended at a special plenary of the Congress by Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso who argued that the bill intends to ensure the efficiency of the State.
SDF MPs boycott constitutional amendment bill
The Social Democratic Front, the SDF party boycotted the voting of the Constitutional Amendment bill last April 4, 2026. According to the SDF party National Chairman, Hon Joshua Osih Nambangi, “we did not want to authenticate this missed opportunity that Cameroon had with its democracy.” Hon Joshua Osih led a walkout with the party’s MPs in the Congress saying the bill was not amended at the Special Committee level where the SDF was and had proposed amendments which were all turned down.
Senator Rene Ze Nguele airs conscience
Despite the SDF party boycott, majority of Senators and MPs participated at the vote to endorse the Constitutional Amendment bill of the Republic of Cameroon. But before then, one of the oldest serving CPDM senators, Rene Ze Nguele from the East Region, wondered aloud why Parliament is rushing with the bill if there is nothing wrong with it. While demanding the bill be withdrawn, rewritten, and scrutinised before any vote is cast, the Senator observed that, “The manipulation of institutions has destroyed many African countries”, and closed his intervention that, “History will retain my words.”
Reactions
– Osih
SDF National Chairman, Hon. Joshua Osih Nambangi defined the position of his party regarding the bill which they received. “The SDF has officially submitted Amendment N° 001 to Bill N° 2094/PJL/P, which proposes creating the office of Vice-President. We call for the President and Vice-President to be elected together by the people, with leaders from both former West and East Cameroon to ensure national unity. The amendment also introduces gender-inclusive language, allowing any citizen, man or woman, to hold the highest offices. Our party’s goal is to have a Constitution that is democratic, inclusive, and stable.”
PCRN MP, Honourable Nourane Fotsing
“Bbeing a Member of Parliament at this crucial moment in our country’s history is a true privilege. The electric atmosphere prevailing in Parliament is palpable, with the presence of all the nation’s key stakeholders and institutional bodies, reflecting the magnitude and historic nature of this event — the advent of a Vice President in our country.”
Cameroon Bar Association
For the Cameroon Bar Association, the Constitutional reform is a “missed opportunity” for meaningful change. According to it, the proposed amendments, particularly the creation of a Vice-President role, raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to democracy and good governance. The Bar Association’s letter to the National Assembly and Senate highlights what it considers flaws in the bill, including “the undemocratic appointment process for the Vice-President and the lack of clarity on the role’s powers.” Also, “The bill’s failure to address pressing national issues, such as the Special Status for English-speaking regions and the creation of a Common Law Bench, is a stark reminder of the government’s priorities”, it echoes.
Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor
On his part, Human Rights activist and president of Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa CHRDA, positions that, “The proposal to create the position of Vice President is, in principle, a welcome step toward ensuring continuity in governance and clarity in presidential succession. However, beyond institutional design lies a deeper and unavoidable question: what kind of balance will this new office represent?… If the President of the Republic is Francophone, the Vice President should, as a matter of constitutional principle and national equilibrium, be Anglophone. This is not about division. It is about inclusion. This is not about politics. It is about stability. This is not about symbolism. It is about trust.”
Voices continue to be loud, emotions electric and arguments strong, however, the majority has carried the day. While some Cameroonians feel that the government is more interested in consolidating power than serving the people, ruling party loyalists differ.
Senator Nfon Ekoko Mukete
Reacting shortly before the amendment, CPDM Senator, Nfon Ekoko Mukete IV maintained that, “the Head of State has enormous experience, years serving as president of the Republic and Head of State. It has given him a lot of foresight and he’s made certain promises and is acting on those promises now. So we in both houses of parliament who are here in this congress really to deliberate, to look at the proposal of what’s coming from him. He is a wise man and we’re very hopeful that it’s going to be an excellent amendment for the Cameroonian people. And I think the Cameroonian people should be celebrating that such amendments would make the constitution better and more appropriate for the time. And really that’s what we’re here for.”
