High profile membersof the SDF party prevented from seeking positions in the reorganisation of the various Districts in Kumba, recently jubilated as their candidates emerged victorious.

The outcome of the reorganisation exercise has left observers stating that nothing has changed within the hierarchy of the party as all newly elected District Chairmen were reportedly hand-picked.

In Kumba I District, the new District Chairman is Roger Wandji, who defeated three other candidates; Godfred Tahwi, Joshua Epie and Esapa Ngute.
Wandji is said to have enjoyed the backing of the incumbent District Chairman and 1st Deputy Mayor, Raphael Tanyi.

In Kumba II, considered to be the stronghold of the opposition, Martin Sigha beat Cletus Ayaba and Barrister Valentine Kenu to replace Promise Chia Ful.
Sigha scored 245 votes while Ayaba got 209 and Kenu; 52 votes.

Sigha, just like Wandji, is said to be the product of Chia and the1st Deputy Mayor of the Kumba II Council. The incumbent fought hard last November 2015 and paralyzed proceedings at an earlier elective meeting of the District when news of the 'one-man, one-chair' policy was announced.

At the level of Kumba III, the man considered to be the candidate of Mayor John Kona Makia, who doubled as incumbent District Chair, carried the day. Rufus Oum Bigda had an easy but challenging ride over Councillors Lucas Elonge and Albert Abi.

With the outcome of the polls, many people believe that the former District Chairpersons who were barred from the process will tele-guide the party.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the elections, the new Kumba II SDF Chairman, Martin Sigha, said he would continue paying allegiance to Promise Chia.

He said there was nothing to change on the field rather than continue with his agenda. He pledged to reconcile losers of the elections.

Politicking

The main theater of the elections was Kumba II, where a much-expected consensus between Ayaba and Kenu crashed, reportedly due to disagreement between former Mayor Ferdinand Asapgnu, and incumbent Martin Forcha.

Forcha, many SDF adherents believe, was the brain behind Ayaba's candidacy. Reconciliation meetings, with the aim of getting a consensus that would have seen Sigha defeated at the elections, reportedly failed repeatedly.
In the campaign hall, Ayaba claimed he was a 'Bamenda candidate' because the Mayor was from the Southwest and the MP hails from the West Region.

The comments, some claim, divided the electorate and cost him a much-anticipated victory.Sigha, who spoke least, only drew the attention of the militants to the need for continuity and trust.

In Kumba III, though tension rose at some point in the course of the elections as a result of new independent candidates, their effect appeared minimal on the victory of the Mayor's candidate, OumBigda.

The camp, which is said to be supported by the Mayor, was accused of trying to block the candidature of Councillor Albert Abi.

First, it was said that on the day the ward was reorganised, Abi was not around and so he got a tip-off and hurriedly registered in another ward.

In the election hall, most of his ward members were reportedly bribed to boycott voting so as to frustrate his ambition of seeking election to the position of District Chairman.