Political parties are fine-tuning campaign strategies while waiting for final lists of candidates.

CPDM

The atmosphere at the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM headquarters in the Yaounde Conference Centre was relatively calm yesterday, March 18. President Biya's ruling CPDM is the only party that will be taking part in the April 14 election of senators all over the country, having submitted nomination papers of its candidates to Elections Cameroon in all the regions. The party is highly organized and always mobilized for political events. In the coming days sessions to fine-tune campaign strategies will likely take place.

However, the CPDM has the overwhelming majority of municipal councilors who make up the electoral college. It is only in the North West Region that the party is running almost neck to neck with Ni John Fru Ndi's leading opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF. By including 19 women as substantive candidates and 25 of them as alternate candidates in the lists submitted to ELECAM, the CPDM indirectly sets out to win the support of all components of society.

SDF

After submitting the nomination papers of the candidates of the Social Democratic Front, SDF for the April 14, 2013 election of senators to Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, party officials met two days later in Bamenda to work out winning campaign strategies. The National Executive Committee, NEC meeting in Bamenda on March 16 chaired by SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi who is also heading the party's list in the North West Region set the basis for campaign that will begin on March 30.

Every NEC member and party official know their responsibilities as Chairman Fru Ndi instructed them to work hard to ensure that the party wins as many Senators as possible. SDF Candidates and municipal councilors must also double vigilance in respect instructions from party hierarchy. The real battle for the SDF will be in the North West Region where the party is fighting tooth and nail with slight hopes to win senators. This is because the difference separating CPDM and SDF councilors who make up the electoral college is 11 in favour of the CPDM. The CPDM list is led by veteran politician and former Prime Minister, Simon Achidi Achu.

NUDP

Officials of the National Union for Democracy and Progress, NUDP are mobilizing to ensure that the party's candidates win the April 14, 2013 election of Senators. After submitting the nomination papers of NUDP candidates on Thursday, March 14, party officials are waiting for Elections Cameroon, ELECAM to publish the final list of candidates.

Information from the Communication Department of the party yesterday, indicated that a series of closed door meetings were programmed. The source did not state the agendas of the meetings but they are likely related to the preparation of the best campaign strategies. The party vying for Senators in six regions of Cameroon.