Gustave Ebanda succeeds Françoise Foning as Mayor of Douala 5th

Members of the City Council, from the municipal elections of 2013, have unanimously elected Gustave Ebanda as Mayor.

The Former first deputy and member of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) succeeds his comrade, Françoise Foning, who died eight months ago after an accident.

The election of the new Mayor was the only item on the agenda of the special session of the Municipal Council chaired by the Prefect of the department of Wouri. The deputy column has nonetheless, affected. All other deputies and members of the CPDM were reshuffled.

But, by domino effect, each stepped a rank higher. For example, Som Benedict, former second deputy, became the first deputy. This slight shift made the sixth deputy post available. The Prefect of Wouri, who provides administrative supervision decided to award the post to the political party leader of the opposition

Thus, Carlos Ngoualem, Social Democratic Front (SDF) activist, won the 6th deputy Mayor. But the balance of party almost lost the focus "were it not for the skill and patience of the Prefect," said Carlos Ngoualem.

While almost all senior executives of the SDF in Douala had provided the name of Carlos Ngoualem as SDF's choice, their comrade, Elimbi Lobe, loudly expressed his opposition by naming Rémy Njeuga, also an SDF activist, as his preferred choice.

Elimbi Lobe is the leader of a group who do not agree with Honourable Michel Nitcheu, leader of SDF memebers in Douala. The negotiations to bring the members of the SDF to speak with one voice proved fruitless. To avoid obstruction of the work, the Prefect verified the two SDF candidates and proposed to the Board to vote one person who will occupy the 6th Deputy position.

After the mini poll, Carlos Ngoualem beat Remy Njeuga with a score of 39 votes against 20. So, for the first time, the Mayors of Douala 5th will be headed by an executive that is no longer one hundred percent made of CPDM militants.