The race to succeed Barrister Sama Francis at the helm of the Cameroon Bar Association is now opened and five candidates are on the list. Among them is the renowned Joseph Belligha.

Barrister Sama Francis, outgoing president has however declared his intention to retain his position. Campaign has been launched and Sama Francis has had his first obstacle following a split in the North West region as lawyers are divided over whom to represent them in the elections slated for January 31st in Yaoundé.

Evidence of the North West acrimony became visible immediately after the creation of a new association known as New Generation Advocates of North West Region. The new body which dissociated itself from North West Lawyers Association on January 3, held a meeting in Bamenda and endorsed Barristers Umenjoh Hiram Abendong, Mbah Eric Mbah and Kemende Henry Gamsey, as their candidates for the elections.

Barrister Sama and the national treasurer, Barrister Joseph Belligha are now taking the last kicks of a dying horse counting on their joint success during their mandate.

Sama and Co are trading the purchase of a piece of land to construct a seven storey building and the organization of the Bar One examinations that saw an unprecedented admission of over 1,400 pupil lawyers into the Bar as their key points.

However, as the election date gets closer, the oath taking ceremony that ushers the pupil lawyers into the Bar is yet to be conducted and critics say it is long overdue.