The Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, in the North West Region has begun sharpening its political strategy and setting new guidelines for the selection of candidates ahead of the 2027 municipal and legislative elections.
At the heart of the party’s preparations is a call for unity, reconciliation, creativity and the identification of candidates considered capable of winning elections while responding to the expectations of their communities.
The CPDM’s North West Regional Seminar was held in Bamenda on Friday, August 21, 2026, under the chairmanship of former Prime Minister Philemon Yang, Head of the party’s Central Committee Permanent Regional Delegation for the North West. The seminar formed part of a wider national mobilisation process launched by the party leadership in Yaoundé in July as preparations gather steam for the 2027 legislative and municipal elections.
Yang used the meeting to send a strong message to party officials, elected representatives and militants: the CPDM must put internal divisions aside and focus on winning.
He told participants that the party was more popular than ever and insisted that its political decisions and strategies must be guided by sound analysis and good judgement. According to Yang, the party must adopt strategic approaches capable of defeating its opponents wherever they are found.
But beyond the contest with opposition parties, the former Prime Minister also turned attention to the challenges within the CPDM itself.
He called for reconciliation among militants, warning that internal conflicts could weaken the party's ability to work as a united force. Personal disagreements, he said, solve no problems and should not be allowed to distract militants from the main objective.
Drawing an analogy from football, Yang told party officials to remain focused.
“Players focus on the ball,” he said, stressing that the attention of the party must now be on the forthcoming elections.
“Our goal is to win and win well,” he added.
The message of unity comes at a crucial moment for the ruling party as political parties across the country intensify grassroots mobilisation and prepare their structures for the next electoral cycle. The CPDM's national leadership has also placed emphasis on discipline, grassroots mobilisation, communication, credible candidates and the management of internal differences ahead of the polls.
Yang urged the party to remain creative and improve communication with its militants. He particularly stressed the importance of young people and women, saying they would occupy a special place in the political architecture of the country.
The CPDM, he said, must therefore deliberately engage young people and female voters rather than leaving them on the margins of its political strategy.
Another major issue discussed at the seminar was the selection of candidates.
Yang said the party was searching for popular candidates with the capacity to win elections. The message was further developed by Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Assistant Head of the CPDM Central Committee Permanent Divisional Delegation for Donga Mantung and Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development.
Speaking after the seminar, Prof. Fuh explained that the party had established a number of criteria to guide the identification and eventual selection of candidates.
According to him, about 12 criteria were considered in the search for what he described as the best candidates.
“We have the coach and the players,” he said, comparing the electoral process to a football team where success depends on fielding the best players and developing their talents.
For the CPDM, the choice of candidates will therefore go beyond party membership alone. Prof. Fuh said prospective candidates must be acceptable to the grassroots, economic operators and traditional authorities. They must also be available, credible and accountable.
The party is also paying attention to the specific responsibilities attached to the different elective positions.
For municipal councils, Prof. Fuh said the role of mayor has become increasingly sophisticated and requires more than political popularity. The CPDM, he explained, needs mayors with managerial capacity and the ability to design, develop and present projects capable of improving their municipalities.
“The job of the mayor has become more sophisticated,” he said, noting that candidates aspiring to lead councils must be able to meet the growing expectations of the population.
The same applies to parliamentary candidates.
According to Prof. Fuh, a Member of Parliament must understand how the country functions and be capable of engaging with different ministerial departments in order to defend the interests of his or her constituency.
He said a parliamentary candidate should also have some understanding of international issues, considering that an elected MP may serve in commissions dealing with foreign affairs, defence and other important national matters.
The party, he added, expects aspiring candidates to examine their eligibility and remember that public service must come before personal interest.
“The first point of call is that you are serving your community and your interest comes second,” he stressed.
The emphasis on candidate quality reflects a broader strategy within the CPDM as it seeks to consolidate its political position ahead of 2027. Similar strategic meetings have been organised in other divisions, with party officials placing particular emphasis on internal cohesion, credible candidates, communication, youth and women, voter mobilisation and grassroots organisation.
For Philemon Yang and the North West party leadership, te objective is already clear: unity within the ranks, strategic action on the ground and, ultimately, victory at the polls.
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