Cameroon Senate unanimously reelects 86-year-old as speaker

The Cameroonian Senate this week (March 18) unanimously reelected Speaker Niat Njifenji Marcel for a one-year period according to state-owned CRTV.

The 86-year-old veteran politician has served in the role since 2013. CRTV said he was run unopposed in the vote to lead the upper lawmaking chamber.

Cameroon's Senate has 100 members – 70 voted into the house and 30 appointed by the president.

After the end of an ordinary session in Yaounde, Njifenji Marcel garnered 85 out of a possible 93 votes with 8 null votes.

The outcome follows an unopposed landslide pattern where in 2019 for instance, he garnered 92 out of 100 possible votes. Seven votes were not in favour of the motion whiles one senator was absent.

He was subsequently sworn in and took charge of the new legislative session. The speaker is among a group of senators who other than being voted, were appointed to the senate by presidential prerogative.

President Paul Biya appointed him senator in 2013 when the upper lawmaking chamber was established. He is a member of the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (know by French initial RDPC).

By law he is the next in line to succeed the president in the case of death. He would lead as head of state till polls are held but he is not permitted to contest in the said polls.

He has previously served a head of the national electricity company and minister in the early 1990s. He has also served as mayor of Bagagngte, his place of birth in western Cameroon.

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Senator Marcel Niat Njifenji has been reelected with the required absolute majority of 85 votes of the 93 voters and 8 nul ballots. pic.twitter.com/Rfjz8heYEd

— CRTVweb (@CRTV_web) March 18, 2021