“I am both honoured and filled with emotion to express myself before you on this special occasion where, through your vote, you have accepted to re-elect me to my office of President of the Senate…” were the first words of President-elect of the Permanent Bureau of the Senate, Niat Njifenji Marcel, after he was declared winner of the election yesterday, March 15, 2016.

Results proclaimed by the President of the Provisional Bureau of the Senate and Eldest member of the House, Senator Nfon Victor E. Mukete, saw 77 votes cast out of 91 in favour of the sole candidate proposed by the Leader of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, Parliamentary Group in the Senate, Senator Peter Mafany Musonge. 14 blank ballots were recorded.

“I would like to tell you how much your trust honours and compels me. It compels me to work for you, to work for each and every one of you, of the majority as well as those of the opposition,” Niat Njifenji told the House, adding gratitude to CPDM’s Chairman, Paul Biya for the trust once more bestowed upon him.

He promised that the Senate will continue to efficiently accomplish its lofty mission of enhancing and consolidating democracy as well as that of preserving the stability of the country’s institutions.

The 17-member Permanent Bureau was completed with the election of Senator Abdoulaye Aboubakary as Senior Vice President while the rest of the outgoing team comprising four Vice Presidents, three Questors and eight Secretaries was re-elected through a consensual list. They were reinstated with a reminder by the Senate President that three years had gone by since the start of the mandate with much done and more still remaining to be done. “The time to present our balance sheet is fast approaching. Now is the time for us to watch the decisions we shall take which will mark the very first legislative period of the Senate in future generations,” he said.

He felt confident that different legislative texts adopted in active support of actions undertaken by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, were a prediction of the welfare of compatriots and particularly the youth. While hinting on total commitment to President Paul Biya while he leads the country towards emergence and amidst calls for him to remain at the helm, Niat Njifenji did not fail to urge his fellow Senators to persevere in efforts to meet challenges lying ahead such as the development of the country and the security threat from Boko Haram.