| Cameroun, Conseil constitutionnel, 24 avril 2020, 05/CC/SRCER

RULING No. 05/CC/SRCER OF THE 24th AP 2020 BETWEEN:
Mrs. Be Z
AND
CPDM
SDF
ELECAM
MINAT
RELIEF SOUGHT:
(Petition for the cancellation of the Legislative election results of AP 9, 2020 in
AI AX AH or the declaration of the UDP candidate as winner)
---The Constitutional Council sitting in open Court, the 24” and 25” of AP 2020,
before the panel composed thus:
---Mr. Clément ATANGANA, President of the Constitutional Council, President;
---Messrs:
AY AZ Bk
Aa AU BF
Aw Ac C BD
As BN
---Mrs: Am Al BL
---Messrs:
Aq At A BS
BU BH
Bm Bh BG
Aj B ---With the assistance of Mr. HAMADJODA, interim Registrar-In-Chief and Mrs.
Ba Ak BQ épse AJ BW, Registrar;
---In the presence of Mr. MALEGHO Joseph ASEH, Secretary Ap.
---In the matter of a petition pitting:
-Mrs. Be Z, candidate on the rejected list of the UDP for AI AX AH
constituency for the AP 9, 2020 Legislative elections, Petitioner;
---AND
-CPDM
-SDF
-ELECAM
-MINAT
Respondents;
---Delivered the following Ruling:
---The Constitutional Council,
---Mindful of the Constitution,
---Mindful of law No. 2004/004 of 21/04/2004 to lay down the organisation and
functioning of the Constitutional Council as amended by law Nos. 2012/ 015 and
2012/016 of 21/12/2012;
---Mindful of decree No. 2018/104 of 7/02/2018 to lay down the organisation and
functioning of the Ap Av of the Constitutional Council;
---Mindful of law No. 2012/001 of 18/04/2012 on the Electoral Code as amended and
supplemented by law No. 2012/017 of 21/12/2012;
---Mindful of Decree No. 2018/015 of 07/02/2018 appointing the Members of the
Constitutional Council;
---Mindful of decree No. 2018/106 of 07/02/2018 appointing the President of the
Constitutional Council;
---Mindful of decree No. 2018/170 of 23/02/2018 appointing the Secretary-General of
the Constitutional Council;
---Mindful of decree No. 2019/621 of 10/11/2019 convening electors for the AP
9, 2020 Legislative and Municipal elections;
---Mindful of the petition of Be Z;
---Upon listening to the report of Mrs. BL Am Al, Councillor/Reporter;
---Considering that by a petition dated 10 AP 2020, received on the 11" of the same
month and registered under n° 01, Mrs. Be Z, candidate on the rejected list of
UDP for AI AX AH, seized the Constitutional Council requesting for
the cancellation of the legislative election results of AP 9, 2020 in the AI
AX AH constituency or the declaration of the UDP candidate as winn.r.
---Considering that the petition in question reads thus:
“Be Z;
“UDP CANDIDATE FOR LEGISLATIVE ELECTION-DONGA MANTUNG WEST
CELL : 677 69 36 60;
“THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE FINAL COUNTING OF
VOTES;
“THE PRESIDENT, CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL YAOUNDE,
“Subject: REQUEST FOR THE CANCELLATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTION
RESULTS OF AP 9, 2020 IN AI AX AH OR DECLARE UDP
CANDIDATES AS WINNER
“I have the honour to inform you and members of your commission that UDP BALLOT
papers were not put for voting at the Polling stations in MISAJE sub Division AI
AX AH constituency;
“The ELECAM printed UDP campaign papers (copy attached) and the UDP BALLOT
papers thereof. The UDP has been campaigning for the past two weeks and spent much
money for the transportation and feeding of UDP militants;
“The UDP has never received any document from the ELECAM board rejecting UDP li.t.
The UDP list respected the gender issue and socio-cultural component of the constituency,
whereby Mr. MBOWE GODWIN SAMA is a different tribe with Bb Be Z
who is of the Hausa-Fulani Tribe. ELECAM HAD ACCEPTED THE UDP list and the
UDP have never been saved with any petition at the Constitutional Council;
“I hereby pray you and members of your commission to cancel the election results of
AP 9, 2020 in MISAJE, AI AX AH or declare the UDP candidates
thereof as winners;
“Thanks;
“An Be Z, UDP candidate AI AX AH
“si.n”.
---Considering that in compliance with section 168 as read with sections 130 paragraph 5,
132,133, 134, 135 and 136 of law No. 2012/001 of 19” April 2012 relating to the Electoral
Code as amended by law No. 2012/017 of 21* December 2012, this petition was posted up
at the Constitutional Council and duly notified on all the respondents within 24(twenty
four) hours. The respondents in return had 48(forty-eight) hours to deposit their statements
of defense;
---Considering that in reply, the CPDM political party filed their written submissions on
the 15” of AP 2020, the Bn BA Bl Bd and BK
AO, on the 15” and 16” of AP 2020;
---Considering that SDF did not file any written statement of defen.e.
---Considering that the written submission of the CPDM reads thus:
“BEFORE THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL HOLDEN AT AR
AK Be Z, AN AG BT (UDP) CANDIDATE,
PETITIONER
AND
“BK AO (ELECAM) “AO Y AG BV (CPDM);RESPONDENTS;
“RESPONSE OF THE CAMEROONS PEOPLE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
(CPDM) TO PETITION No. 01 RECEIVED ON THE 11/02/2020 AT THE REGISTRY
“MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIPS the AO Y AG BV
(hereinafter CPDM) doth hereby prays Your Lordships to declare inadmissible or
ultimately dismiss the petition of the Be Z, rejected candidate of the AN
AG BT (UDP) for the elections of the 9" AP 2020;
“Your Lordships, this Honourable Constitutional Council, sitting in its original and
exclusive jurisdiction, and by Ruling No. 010/SRCER/G/SG/CC of the 19” day of
December 2019, unanimously rejected the candidatures of MBOWE GODWIN SAMA
(substantive candidate, indigene and resident of Misaje Sub-Division) and Be
Z (alternate candidate, indigene and resident of Misaje Sub-Division), to compete
in the AKO-MISAJE constituency, for failure to respect Section 151(3) of the Electoral
Code (See copy of Ruling No. 010/SRCER/G/SG/CC of the 19” day of December 2019 by
the Constitutional Council)
“It is therefore bizarre that the petitioner expected by some stroke of imagination, that
UDP ballot papers should have been presented at the polling stations on the election .ate.
“BK AO merely executed a sound decision of this Honourable Constitutional
Council by withdrawing the ballot papers of the respondent;
“From the above, we urge Your Lordships to dismiss the said peti.ion.
“RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
“Yaoundé 12” day of AP 2020;
“ADDRESSES FOR SERVICE:
“RESPONDENTS: c/o their Counsel
“Ad BC Bj Bi, AL Au; BB BE AJ
Az AS AW Ao Ag BO AQ Ar, ALIMA
Marcus;
“PETITIONER: Be Z, AN AG BT (UDP) ---Considering that the written submission of ELECAM reads thus:
“IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL OF CAMEROON-YAO.NDE.
“WRITTEN REPLY IN DEFENCE OF THE RESPONDENT (BK
AO);
“FOR BK AO (ELECAM)
- Ad BJ Bc X ;
- Barrister OKHA BAU OKHA ;
- Maître ATANGANA AMOUGOU Joseph — Advocates
“AGAINST :
“AN AG BT (UDP)
“Be Z
“MOTIVE OF PETITION:
“REQUEST FOR THE CANCELLATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTION RESULTS
OF AP 9, 2020 IN AI AX AH OR DECLARE UDP
CANDIDATES AS WINNER
“ELECTORAL CONSTITUENCY: AI AX AH.
“MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIPS:
“The Petitioner filed a petition dated the 10” AP 2020 before the Constitutional
Council, praying the Council to cancel the results of the Legislative Election of 09"
AP 2020 in AI AX AH or declare UDP Candidates as winners. The
petitioner in her petition alleged that the UDP ballot papers were not put for voting at the
polling stations in Misaje sub Division AI AX AH Constitu.ncy.
“The petitioner further alleged that they never received any document from the Ay
Ae BA BK AO rejecting their list. They equally mentioned in their petition
that the UDP list respected gender and sociological component of the constituency in
question. They equally mentioned that Elecam accepted the UDP list and UDP have never
been served with any petition from the Constitutional Counc.l.
SUBMISSION TO THE COURT:
“We submit My Lords that the UDP list of AI AX AH was accepted and
published by the Ay Ae BA BK AO BM AV) on the 09” and 10”
December 2019.
“After the publication of the list of candidates, the CPDM representative of AI
AX petitioned the Constitutional Council in suit No. 045/SRCER/G/SG/CC to
disqualify the UDP list on the ground that it did not respect the Sociological Component
of the Constituency. They mentioned the fact that the constituency is made up of two Sub
Bg (Misaje and Ako) and the two candidates of the UDP List were all from one Sub
Division, thereby violating the sociological compo.ent.
“The Constitutional Council on the 19" December 2019 delivered a seasoned ruling .o.
10/SRCER/G/SG/CC in open session and rejected the UDP list of AI AX AH
for not respecting the sociological component of the constitu.ncy.
“Section 15(2), (3) and (4) of Law No. 2004/004 of 21 april 2004; To lay down the
Organization and Functioning of the Constitutional Council stipulate as follows:-
“(2) The ruling of the Constitutional Council shall be notified on the parties concerned
and published in the AM BI;
“(3) They shall be binding on all public, administrative, military and judicial authorities
as well on all natural persons and corporate bodies;
“(4) They shall be enforced forth.ith.
“From the above cited provisions of the law, the petitioner was quite aware that the
Constitutional Council ordered that the Ay Ae should withdraw the UDP list for
AI AX AH and BK AO did just that in execution of the ruling of
the Constitutional Council as required by the.law.
“We further submit that as a result of the Ruling of the Constitutional Council
disqualifying the list of UDP, the petitioner never took part in the election and therefore
lacks the locaus standi to bring this action as per Section 132 sub 2 of the Electoral .ode.
“FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
“And for some other reasons that the Constitutional Council may evoke suo-moto;
“IN FORM:
“Declare the petition inadmissible for the petitioner has no locaus standi to bring this
ac.ion.
“ON THE MERITS:
“Reject and dismiss the petition of UNITED MEMOCRATIC PARTY (UDP) Be
Z For being unfounded for want of evid.nce.
“Ah Bf;
“Yaoundé, the 13th AP 2020;
“FOR BK AO (ELECAM)
“Ad BJ Bc X;
“Barrister OKHA BAU OKHA;
“Maître ATANGANA AMOUGOU Joseph;
“si.n”.
---Considering that the reply of the Bn BA Bl Bd reads thus:
«OBSERVATIONS DU REPRESENTANT DE L'ETAT DU CAMEROUN (MINAT) SUR
L'ANNULATION DES ELECTIONS LEGISLATIVES DANS LES BUREAUX DE VOTE
DE LA LOCALITE DE MISAJE DANS LA CIRCONSCRIPTION ELECTORALE DU
AI AX OUEST
« A Monsieur le Président du Conseil Constitutionnel, YAOUNDE ;
« Plaise au Conseil Constitutionnel!
« Vu la requête, en date du 10 février 2020, aux fins d'annulation des élections législatives
dans les bureaux de vote de la localité de Misaje dans la circonscription électorale de la
AI AX Ouest, enregistrée au Greffe de céans sous le numéro 01 ;
« Attendu que Dame Be Z, candidate de l'United AG BT (UDP) aux
élections législatives du 09 février 2020, allègue que les bulletins de vote de ce parti
politique étaient absents dans les bureaux de vote de la localité de Misaje alors que leur
liste a été admise par ELECAM et qu'ils ont régulièrement battu campagne;
« Qu'elle sollicite soit l'annulation des élections dans cette localité soit que la liste de
l'UDP soit déclarée vanqueur :
« Mais attendu que l'Etat du Cameroun (MINAT) entend démontrer que cette requête ne
saurait prospérer;
« Que l'Auguste Juridiction peut s'en apercevoir au moyen des arguments développés ci-
après;
« 1-Sur le caractère mal orienté de la requête
« Attendu qu'à la lecture de la requête de Dame Be Z, il apparaît qu'elle a
entendu, sans équivoque, saisir le Président de la Commission Nationale de Recensement
Général des Votes;
« Qu'on peut en effet lire à l'entête: "THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR
THE FINAL COUNTING OF VOTESI THE PRESIDENT, CONSTITUTIONNAL
COUNCIL"
« Qu'en concluant ladite requête, elle prie le Président et les membres de sa commission
d'annuler les élections dans la localité de Misaje en ces termes: « 1 hereby pray you and
members of your commission to cancel the election results ;
« Attendu que le Conseil Constitutionnel et la Commission Nationale de Recensement
Général des Votes sont deux organes distincts;
« Que le Président du Conseil constitutionnel n'est pas Président, encore moins membre
de la Commission Nationale de Recensement Général des Votes qui a à sa tête un
Magistrat du Conseil Constitutionnel désigné par lui, tel que cela ressort des dispositions
de l'article 68 du Code électoral;
« Qu'en saisissant la Commission, elle a estimé que c'est cette instance qui est compétente
pour donner une suite légale à sa requête;
« Qu'il ne revient pas, en l'espèce, au Conseil Constitutionnel de se saisir d'une requête
adressée à une autre instance;
« Qu'au demeurant, il convient de constater que la requérante a saisi la Commission
Nationale de Recensement Général des Votes, de lui en donner acte et de l'inviter à se
mieux pourvoir;
« II-Sur l'irrecevabilité tirée de l'absence d'articulation des moyens et du nom de l'élu dont
l'élection est contestée
« A- Sur l'irrecevabilité tirée de l'absence d'articulation des moyens
Attendu qu'aux termes de l'article 133(3) du Code électoral, la requête doit, sous peine
d'irrecevabilité, préciser les faits et les moyens allégués;
« Que les moyens sont les raisons de fait et de droit invoquées par un plaideur à l'appui de
sa prétention;
« Qu'en l'espèce, dame Be Z n'indique pas, à l'appui de sa prétention, la
disposition légale qui aurait été violée;
« Qu'il suit que sa requête est irrecevable;
« B- Sur l'irrecevabilité tirée de l'absence du nom de l'élu dont l'élection est contestée
« Attendu que l'article 49 de la loi n° 2004/004 du 21 avril 2004 portant organisation et
fonctionnement du Conseil Constitutionnel dispose que la requête doit contenir, sous peine
d'irrecevabilité, le nom de l'élu ou des élus dont l'élection est contestée;
« Qu'à la lecture de la requête de Dame Be Z, il n'est nulle part fait mention du
nom de l'élu ou des élus dont elle conteste l'élection;
« Qu'il suit en application de la disposition légale susvisée de déclarer cette requête
irrecevable;
« IIT- Sur le caractère non justifié de la requête
« Attendu qu'il est de principe en droit qu'il appartient à celui qui allègue un fait d'en
rapporter la preuve;
« Qu'en l'espèce, dame Be Z qui prétend que les bulletins de vote de son parti
étaient absents des bureaux de vote de la localité de Misaje ne rapporte ne serait-ce qu'un
début de preuve de ses allégations qui, de ce fait, ne sauraient retenir l'attention de
l'Auguste Juridiction;
« Qu'elle ne rapporte non plus la preuve de ce que ce grief pourrait avoir une incidence
sur les résultats de l'élection exposant ainsi sa requête au rejet sur le fondement de
l'article 134 du Code électoral qui dispose que le Conseil Constitutionnel peut rejeter les
requêtes ne contenant que des griefs ne pouvant avoir aucune incidence sur les résultats
de l'élection;
« Qu'il suit que cette requête n'est pas justifiée;
« Par ces motifs et tous autres à en déduire ou suppléer d'office, Plaise au Conseil
Constitutionnel de :
« - recevoir l'Etat du Cameroun (MINAT) en ses observations et l'y dire fondé;
«- constater que dame Be Z a saisi la Commission Nationale de recensement
Général des Votes au lieu du Conseil Constitutionnel;
« - la renvoyer à se mieux pourvoir ainsi qu'elle avisera;
«- déclarer sa requête irrecevable pour défaut d'articulation des moyens et du nom de
l'élu ou des élus dont l'élection est contestée;
« - surabondamment, la déclarer non justifiée;
« Et ce sera justice ;
« Yaoundé, le 14 février 2020 ;
« Le Représentant de l’Etat ;
« Signé AT Ai Ab ».
ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF THE PETITION
---Considering that by virtue of Section 132(2) of Law No. 2012/001 of 19” april 2012
relating to the Electoral Code as amended by law No. 2012/017 of 21* December 2012,
the Constitutional Council shall rule on all petitions filed by any candidate, any political
party which took part in the election or any person serving as a representative of the
Administration for the election, requesting the total or partial cancellation of election
operatio.s.
---Considering that from the provisions of the aforementioned section, the Electoral Code
has clearly defined the category of persons with the locus standi to file petitions before
the Constitutional Council in post-electoral disputes relating to the election of Members
of Parliame.t.
---Considering moreover that the Constitutional Council, sitting in its original and
exclusive jurisdiction, and by Ruling No. 010/SRCER/G/SG/CC of the 19" day of
december 2019, unanimously rejected the candidatures of MBOWE GODWIN SAMA
(substantive candidate, indigene and resident of Misaje Sub-Division) and Be
Z (alternate candidate, indigene and resident of Misaje Sub-Division), to compete
in the AKO-MISAJE constituency, for failure to respect the mandatory provisions of
Section 151(3) of the Electoral Co.e.
---Considering that the petitioner did not take part in the election of Members of the
National Ax of AP, 9, 2020 because she was on the rejected list of the UDP political party for AI AX AH constituency as per Ruling .o.
010/SRCER/G/SG/CC of the 19” day of december 2019 of the Constitutional Council;
---Considering that from the above we do find that the petitioner lacks the locus standi to
file this petition before the Constitutional Council in this matt.r.
---Considering that proceedings before the Constitutional Council are free of charge as per
section 57 of law No. 2004/004 of 21“ of april 2004, the cost of these proceedings shall be
defrayed by the Public Af.
---Considering that by virtue of section 15(2) of the aforementioned law and section
131(3) of the Electoral Code, this Ruling shall be served forthwith to the Ay Ae
BA AV and to all the parties concerned, and published in the AM BI in
French and in Englis..
UPON THESE GROUNDS
---The constitutional Council, after a full hearing in open Court on post-electoral disputes
as final jurisdiction with the unanimous vote of its members;
---Declares the action instituted by Be Z inadmissible and accordingly
dismissed for lack of locus standi;
---Orders the Public Af to defray the cost of these proceedings;
---Orders service forthwith of this Ruling to the Ay Ae BA AV and to all
the parties concerned, and its publication in the AM BI in french and in English;
---Thus decided and pronounced in open court by the Constitutional Council, the same
day, month and year as cited above in the Court Hall of the said Council;
---In witness whereof, this present decision has been signed by the President and the
Secretary- General and countersigned by the interim Registrar-In-Chi.f.
THE PRESIDENT THE SECRERATY-GENERAL
Clément ATANGANA MALEGHO Joseph ASEH
THE REGISTRAR-IN- CHIEF
HAMADJODA