ELECAM NW Regional boss hopeful of meeting registration target despite security, logistics challenges
By Ngabir Usmanu
As the deadline doors for voter registration on electoral lists ahead of Cameroon’s municipal and parliamentary elections are fast drawing near on August 31, 2026, the North West Regional Delegate of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM Mbowoh Elvis, says the region is making steady progress but is battling against insecurity and inadequacy of logistics.
The Delegate disclosed to the press that out of the 31,000 new electors targeted for the NW Region, 25,298 have been registered between January and July 2026. “I think ELECAM North West is very prepared as far as the forthcoming legislative and municipal elections are concerned. As of now, we are focused on voter registration exercises,” he said.
“We are optimistic that by the end of August, we should have met our target of 31,000 new electors enrolled in the NW region.”
In these last weeks, the Delegate said ELECAM has intensified both registration and cleaning of the electoral register. “We have intensified registering new electors. We are also cleaning the register that is filling forms for modification and deletion. Those who have died, their names have been removed from the electoral register. Those who have moved from one place to another, their biographic and biometric data is being transferred to the new areas of residence so that they can vote. Those who have errors in their biographic data, we are also using this window to effect such corrections,” he explained.
One of the biggest hurdles, the Regional Delegate noted, is the high level of insecurity reigning in parts of Bui, Menchum, Boyo and rising operational costs. “The insecurity is a huge impediment on voter registration because there are areas where kit operators cannot go there freely to carry out voter registration. There are some areas which are still considered as red zones. We are focusing our efforts on the green zone". On logistics, he added:
“The North west authorities are working very closely with the Director General of Elections Cameroon to ensure that sufficient means are being placed at the level of the kit operators to carry out effective voter registration,” noting that collaboration has been key to what they have achieved so far.
“We want to use this opportunity to thank the defense and security forces and most especially the Regional Delegate of National Security whose elements in the field have collaborated with ELECAM staff to ensure that voter registration exercise is conducted smoothly in the Northwest region.”
To ensure inclusion, the ELECAM boss says they are working with civil society, youth and women’s groups. “We are working with civil society groups to ensure that most of these civil society groups are being mandated by youth and women. We capitalize on our relationship with institutions like the National Youth Council and other youth organisations. We use women's organisations to also mobilize women's groups to ensure that they register en masse. These efforts are yielding fruits because when you look at the statistics and the quota that has been contributed by youth, you realise that youth and women in the Northwest region are not being left behind.” Mbowoh Elvis stated.
Beyond registration, the Delegate said ELECAM will move to staff training immediately after August. “As far as staff preparedness is concerned, immediately after registration exercise, we will swing into the next phase which will be preparing the manpower towards effective organisation management and monitoring of election exercise.
During that period we will have a series of training where the staff will be trained, temporary workers will be recruited and trained and finally we will have the recruitment of chairpersons who will also come on board and be trained,” he explained.
“With all these measures, we are sure that the staff will be equipped with the necessary skills needed to carry out elections, to organize elections in a credible, transparent manner that will be accepted by all.”
It should be noted that out of the 25,298 registered in the region, Mezam is ranked first with 13,518. Donga Mantung second with 2,999, Momo 2,936, Menchum 2,145, Boyo 1,607, Bui 1,337 and Ngo-ketunjia ranked 7th with 756 registered.
Mbowoh Elvis made a direct appeal to residents, especially those displaced by the crisis. “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all residents in the NW region who have not yet registered on the electoral roll to seize the opportunity. We still have one month to go. For those who have moved from where they initially registered, they should get in touch with the council branches of Elections Cameroon in the NW region so that your data will be transferred.”
Citing Bamenda as an example, he said: “If you look at Bamenda town and especially Up station, you will realize that so many people are migrating from downtown, from other divisions to settle in this area which is a bit free. It's an opportunity for them to get in touch with the election branches so that their data is transferred to their new areas and put in positions closest to their home.” Registration, he stressed, is free.
