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Actualités of Jeudi, 23 Janvier 2014

Source: Cameroon Tribune

UPC Congress to Hold Later

The sixth congress of the party was programmed to take place on January 25 and 26, 2014 in Yaounde.

The Subdivisional Officer of Yaounde I, Tsanga Foe Jean-Paul has refused to authorize the holding of the sixth ordinary congress of the Union des populations du Cameroun, UPC initially programmed to hold in Yaounde, January 25 to 26, 2014. In a decision addressed to the Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the congress, Onana Victor signed on January 20, 2014, the Subdivisional Officer explained that it was impossible for him to grant the request for the congress for reasons of public order and the non conformity of the congress to the terms and spirit of the press release of July 3, 2013 issued by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation.

The Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the congress, Onana Victor organized a press conference in Yaounde, yesterday, January 22, 2014 during which he announced the decision to postpone the congress due to prevailing security circumstances. He said, it will be convened in a date to be decided by the Joint Steering Committee, stating that the party officials will work with the administration to indicate the impossibility of respecting the terms of the meeting with MINATD which specified that the congress takes place three months after the September 30, 2013 twin legislative and municipal elections.

The postponement of the congress may likely widen the divide in the UPC considering that the decision of the administration not to authorize it was not communicated to members of the organising committee before the press conference. Consequently, the announcement of the chairperson of the committee on its postponement met with strong condemnation, attacks, threats and counter-threats between the Onana Victor and some members of the Committee. Mr Onana said the decision to postpone the congress was taken an hour before the press conference, stating that the powers conferred on him give the right to judge situations and take decisions.

One member of the organising committee, Nwaha Donald who disapproved of the decision of their chairperson insisted that the congress must hold this weekend. He considered the decision as high treason, calling Onana Victor Judas and insisted that the decision only concerned Onana. There was indeed confusion as tempers flared.