Atanga Nji warns opposition against forcing citizens into voter registration
By Charity Nginyu
Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has issued a stern warning against any attempts to force citizens into registering for the upcoming 2025 presidential elections.
Amidst ongoing preparations for the upcoming elections, Minister Atanga Nji had stressed the importance of voluntary participation in voter registration, cautioning against any attempts to coerce individuals into registering against their will.
“It is not superfluous to specify that registration on the electoral lists is not obligatory. We cannot therefore forcefully remove people from their homes or use pressure of any kind to force them to register on the electoral lists,” reiterated Minister Nji in a recent statement.
The Minister’s remarks came amidst the eruption of videos and information, showing individuals allegedly being pressured or forced by political party members to register for the upcoming elections.
While registration on the electoral lists is a crucial step in the electoral process, Minister Nji emphasized that it should be a voluntary act, free from any form of intimidation or undue influence.
ELECAM, the Electoral Council of Cameroon, in the communique, has been tasked by the Minister with overseeing the registration process, ensuring that it is conducted in accordance with the law and in a manner that upholds the principles of democracy.
“Registration operations on the electoral lists fall within the sovereign prerogatives of ELECAM. They are therefore carried out in the field by the territorial branches of ELECAM, in liaison with the competent Joint Commissions,” emphasized Minister Nji.
The Minister also warned against the exploitation of the registration process for political purposes.
“The Administrative Authorities have already been instructed to ensure that registration operations on the electoral lists take place without the slightest disturbance by certain politicians seeking notoriety,” he further stated.
