The career teacher and educational administrator fills the vacuum created after the demise of Ekema Patrick Esunge Sunday, October 27, 2019., 

The appointment of Efande as interim Mayor is in line with Article 70(2) of Law No. 2004/018 of 22 July 2004 to lay down the rules applicable to Councils.

The elections of a new Mayor is expected to take place within 60 days following the death of the Mayor but an Interim Mayor is expected to manage the day to day affairs of the council pending the said election.

Efande was voted councillor of the Buea Council on September 30, 2013 and would later on October 16, 2019 be elected Second Deputy Mayor. 

But when First Deputy Mayor Motomby Mbome Emmanuel was shown the door on grounds of accrued absences, Efande moved a step up the ladder.

Motomby reportedly failed to attend a meeting convened by the SDO last Tuesday, forcing the civil administrator to adjourn the session. When they reconvened on Wednesday, Efande was the choice. Efande holds a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Buea.

Motomby is however known to have said that he does not fight over earthly things. 

News of Ekema Patrick’s death in Douala Sunday shocked the city of Buea. It was a gloomy day for the inhabitants of Buea, especially coming a day after the death of Mrs Agnes Mokoko, wife of Rev. Mokoko Mbue Thomas of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon. 

Information indicated that Mayor Ekema Patrick Esunge died in a medical facility in Bonapriso Douala after suffering from a malaise and was on oxygen. The remains are being preserved at the Douala Military Hospital Mortuary pending funeral arrangements. 

Ekema Patrick became mayor of Buea Council in May 2013 on the ticket of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party. He is married and a father of many. He became very famous in 2018 when he decided to fight against separatist-imposed ghost towns, by closing shops that were not willing to open on Mondays.